Always True Crime

On February 9, 1988, 22-year-old Helen McCourt finished work early at an insurance office in Liverpool. She phoned her mum to say she was on her way home and asked if her tea could be ready, as she was looking forward to getting ready for a date that evening. After catching her usual train and bus back to the village of Billinge on Merseyside, Helen got off at her regular stop, less than 500 yards from her front door. She was never seen alive again.

What followed was one of the most significant murder investigations in British criminal history. Detectives uncovered a remarkable trail of forensic evidence that pointed them towards a local pub landlord, despite the fact that Helen's body had vanished without a trace. The investigation would help shape the future use of DNA evidence in murder trials and ultimately inspire a change in the law, but for Helen's family, one heartbreaking question has never been answered.

In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, I examine the murder of Helen McCourt, the investigation that led to the conviction of Ian Simms, and the extraordinary "no body" murder case that changed British legal history. We explore Helen's life, her final journey home, the painstaking forensic investigation, the trial, the years-long search for her remains, and Marie McCourt's tireless campaign that led to the introduction of Helen's Law. Above all, we remember Helen as the kind, caring young woman whose family are still waiting to bring her home more than three decades later.

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Disclaimer:
The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
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Lawrence Haggart had everything to look forward to. A gifted teenage footballer who had already signed for Celtic and represented Scotland at youth level, Lawrence appeared destined for a bright future in the game he loved. But after an ordinary evening out with friends, his life was brought to a devastating end in a brutal attack that left his family and community searching for answers.

In this episode, I examine the investigation into Lawrence's murder, the extraordinary mistakes that saw detectives become fixated on the wrong suspects, and how the real killer was eventually brought to justice.

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Writing Credit: Chris Wood
You can buy Chris's second book, 'Death in the Theatre' here: https://www.amazon.com/Death-Theatre-Chris-Wood/dp/1399009117

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Stephen Port was a serial killer who murdered four men in Barking, East London, between 2014 and 2015.

In this episode, I examine the failings in the police investigation into Stephen Port and ask whether the Metropolitan Police repeated some of the same mistakes in their handling of Ed Cornes' death. It's a thought-provoking episode that raises important questions about policing, accountability, and whether the lessons from the Port investigation were truly learned.

Welcome to part three of this special four-part series of the UK True Crime Podcast, where I explore the life and death of 19-year-old Ed Cornes. Ed had only just begun the next exciting chapter of his life when, in October 2021, he arrived at University College London with ambitions of becoming a barrister. But less than 48 hours later, those ambitions were cut tragically short when paramedics were called to a hotel in King's Cross, just half a mile from his university accommodation, where they found Ed dead.

At the time of his death, Ed was in the company of two men in their fifties - strangers he had met only a few hours earlier.

If you have any information at all that can help us find out any more about what happened to Ed, please contact in the strictest confidence:

1, Ed's family via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Da8cL06MHmq/
2, The Met Police: opthrupp@met.police.uk
3, Me: Adam@uktruecrime.com

Next Sunday, we conclude this initial series exploring the life and death of Ed Cornes by asking: where are we now? I hope you'll join me.

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Margaret Fleming was a vulnerable young woman who disappeared from the lives of almost everyone who knew her. For years, questions about her whereabouts went unanswered, until an investigation uncovered a web of deception that would become one of Scotland's most disturbing criminal cases. In this episode, I examine Margaret's life, the circumstances that led to her disappearance, and how the truth eventually came to light.

I release episodes of the UK True Crime podcast every Tuesday and Friday, so please do join me again on Friday for the next story. And don't forget to join me on Sunday for episode three of the series into the life and death of Ed Cornes, where I focus on the investigation into the Stephen Port - did the Met Police make the same mistakes in their investigation into Ed's death?

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Join UK True Crime Facebook Group
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It was a daunting sounding task that had never before been attempted - the fingerprinting of every male in one of the largest towns in the UK. But back in May 1948, the murder of three year old June Anne Devaney had sickened even the most hardened detectives so much, that there wasn't an officer involved who wasn't prepared to give this his all.

This time around, on The True Crime Enthusiast Podcast, I bring you the story of the Blackburn Fingerprint Hunt...

The episode contains details and descriptions of crimes and events, involving a child, and including descriptions of injury detail, that some listeners may find disturbing or distressing, so discretion is advised whilst listening in.

Music used in this episode: "The Descent" by Kevin Macleod. All music used is sourced from https://filmmusic.io/ and used under an Attribution Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Something Real – The Guest List
White No Sugar - The Clint Boon Experience

The True Crime Enthusiast's Fundraiser For Macmillan Cancer Support

References - available upon request.

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Remembering June Anne.
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