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True Criminals

True Criminals

Written by: Audio Bleach Global
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Winner of Outstanding Independent Podcast at this year’s True Crime Awards in London, True Criminals is your weekly deep dive into both historic and contemporary crime stories, hosted by Sky News Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero. With decades of frontline reporting experience, Martin and Helen go beyond the headlines to uncover exclusive insights and untold details from some of the most gripping criminal investigations. Each episode delivers powerful storytelling and rare access, featuring guests such as senior detectives, investigative journalists, bestselling authors, and individuals directly connected to the crimes. Whether it’s a high-profile case or one that’s never made the news, True Criminals offers a unique, behind-the-scenes view of the criminal justice system. Produced by Audio Bleach Global, the series is helmed by BAFTA-winning producer Russell Barnes. For questions and listener feedback, contact us at contact@audiobleachglobal.com Follow us: Instagram: @true.criminals YouTube: @True-Criminals TikTok: @truecriminalspodcast Connect with the hosts Martin Brunt on Twitter: @skymartinbrunt Read his book No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter – Buy on Amazon Helen Fospero on Instagram: @helenfospero Listen to her podcast The Convex Conversation: Apple Podcasts Credits Produced by: Audio Bleach Global Executive Producer: Lee Mann Producer: Russell Barnes Audio Production: Andrew Chappell Original Music: Chap Mannequin Artwork: Bleached Learn more: audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals2024 True Crime World
Episodes
  • Delroy Grant: The Night Stalker - How DCI Colin Sutton Caught a Serial Predator - Part 2
    Feb 23 2026
    In part two of this True Criminals double episode, Martin Brunt and Helen Fospero are joined by retired DCI Colin Sutton to reveal how the hunt for Delroy Grant finally turned after years of failure. Known as the Night Stalker, Grant terrorised vulnerable elderly victims across South London for nearly two decades, committing burglary, rape and sexual assault while evading capture despite leaving DNA at multiple scenes. The investigation, Operation Minstead, became a test of modern policing, with mass screenings, huge suspect lists and mounting public fear. When Sutton took over in 2009, he rejected the DNA led focus and reframed the case as a pattern of burglary, using geographical profiling, behavioural insight and covert surveillance to predict where the offender would strike next. What followed was a high stakes operation placing officers in hidden observation posts across South East London, leading to the moment Grant was finally caught and identified through DNA. The episode explores his chilling double life as a seemingly kind neighbour and carer hiding a predatory reality, as well as the devastating impact on victims, many of whom lived in lasting fear. Sutton also reflects on a critical missed opportunity in 1999 that allowed hundreds more offences to happen, exposing the consequences of human error in policing. Convicted in 2011 of 29 offences and sentenced to 27 years, Grant’s case remains one of the most disturbing in UK criminal history and a powerful example of how persistence, strategy and leadership can finally bring a serial offender to justice. .................................... Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE⁠ Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠@true.criminals⁠⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠⁠@helenfospero⁠⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHED Artwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • Delroy Grant: The Night Stalker - Inside the 17 Year Reign of Terror - Part 1
    Feb 16 2026
    In this episode of True Criminals, Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt and journalist Helen Fospero examine the shocking case of Delroy Grant, known as the Night Stalker. For nearly two decades, Grant terrorised elderly victims across South East London, breaking into their homes in the dead of night and committing a series of burglaries and sexual assaults that left communities living in fear. Part one explores the timeline of the case, from the first reported attack in 1992 through the launch of Operation Minstead and the mounting police investigation. Martin Brunt shares his firsthand memories of covering the case, revealing how DNA evidence, missed opportunities and investigative blunders allowed one of the UK’s most prolific serial sex offenders to evade capture for 17 years. The episode examines how Grant targeted vulnerable elderly victims, how forensic breakthroughs shaped the manhunt and why the case exposed critical lessons about policing, persistence and the limits of early DNA databases. This is the inside story of the Night Stalker before the arrest, the trial and the life sentences that followed. Listen to part one now and join us for part two, featuring retired Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton on how Operation Minstead finally closed the net. .................................... Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: BLEACHED Music Composition: BLEACHEDArtwork: BLEACHED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • Manhunt: How DCI Colin Sutton Caught Levi Bellfield
    Feb 10 2026
    How do you catch a killer who leaves no trace? In this episode of True Criminals, legendary Sky News Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt and veteran journalist Helen Fospero dive deep into one of the most chilling cases in British history: the hunt for serial killer Levi Bellfield. Joining them in the studio is the man who finally brought him to justice, Retired DCI Colin Sutton. Known for his "old-fashioned" detective work, Sutton reveals the inside story of the investigation that spanned years and multiple murders, eventually linking the deaths of Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell, and Amélie Delagrange. The Breakthrough: Discover how DCI Colin Sutton connected the dots between seemingly unrelated attacks when others couldn't see the pattern. The Investigation: A behind-the-scenes look at the "Manhunt"—the relentless surveillance and the crucial CCTV footage of a white Vauxhall Belmont that became the catalyst for Bellfield's arrest. Catching a Monster: How Sutton’s team built a case with zero DNA evidence, relying instead on meticulous forensic link-building and "boots-on-the-ground" policing. The Conviction: The moment Levi Bellfield was finally identified as the "Bus Stop Killer" and the subsequent confession that brought closure to the family of Milly Dowler. …………………………. Support the Show Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠. As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE Follow True Criminals Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠. Connect with Martin Brunt Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠. Connect with Helen Fospero Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠. Credits True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information. Executive Producer: Lee Mann. Producer: Russell Barnes. Audio Production: Andrew Chappell. Music Composition: Chap Mannequin. Artwork: Bleached Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 16 mins
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