Crime Next Door

BBC Sounds

Gripping True Crime stories from neighbourhoods across the UK.Series 5. The Golden Toilet Heist A story of art, mystery and a solid gold, fully plumbed in toilet stolen from a British palace. With behind-the-scenes access at Blenheim Palace, we explore the inside story of the heist and its fallout.Previously on Crime Next Door:Series 1. An Assassin Comes to Town Gunshots kickstart an extraordinary tale of state terrorism. Series 2. Servants and Saints Exploring the story and allegations of a global religious group.Series 3. Death on the Farm After fifty years the community of Llangolman seek justice. Series 4. The Salisbury Poisonings Follow the public inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess.

  • 30 minutes 45 seconds
    3. An Extraordinary Plan

    Faced with deceptions and dead-ends, Detective Chief Superintendent Bob Booth devises an audacious plan to catch the so-called ‘Black Panther' and save Lesley Whittle.

    What follows is an elaborate deception of his own, involving the Whittle family and an unsuspecting national media.

    This series contains rare and original archive, some not broadcast since the time.

    Presenter: Susan Hanks. Producer: Susan Hanks and Rob Howell. Sounds Producer: Rob Howell. Story Consultant: Luke Eldridge. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Producers: Arran Bee and Aftab Gulzar. Commissioning Editor: Alistair Miskin.

    16 December 2025, 1:00 am
  • 19 minutes 22 seconds
    2. The Career Criminal

    The case takes a dramatic turn when a seemingly unconnected crime reveals a chilling back-story. Lesley Whittle’s kidnapper is far more dangerous than they imagined.

    'Perfect detective' Bob Booth is faced with a far-from-perfect investigation and the growing realisation that they’re dealing with a monster.

    This series contains rare and original archive, some not broadcast since the time.

    Presenter: Susan Hanks. Producer: Susan Hanks and Rob Howell. Sounds Producer: Rob Howell. Story Consultant: Luke Eldridge. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Producers: Arran Bee and Aftab Gulzar. Commissioning Editor: Alistair Miskin.

    ARCHIVE : Dudley news report sourced from ‘ATV Today’ produced by ATV­. Bob Booth commentary sourced from ‘Real Crime – The Heiress & The Kidnapper’ produced by ITV.

    9 December 2025, 1:00 am
  • 32 minutes 41 seconds
    1. The Perfect Detective

    Detective Chief Superintendent Robert 'Bob' Booth from West Mercia Police is tested by the rarest of crimes.

    He faces an unprecedented challenge after 17-year-old Lesley Whittle is kidnapped from her home in Highley, Shropshire, and a ransom note is found.

    The case gripped the nation in 1975 and created widespread public fear.

    This series contains rare and original archive, some not broadcast since the time.

    Presenter: Susan Hanks. Producer: Susan Hanks and Rob Howell. Sounds Producer: Rob Howell. Story Consultant: Luke Eldridge. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Producers: Arran Bee and Aftab Gulzar. Commissioning Editor: Alistair Miskin.

    ARCHIVE : Bob Booth commentary sourced from ‘Real Crime – The Heiress & The Kidnapper’ produced by ITV.

    2 December 2025, 1:00 am
  • 1 minute 52 seconds
    Introducing The Cop, The Kidnap and The Killer

    Lesley Whittle is kidnapped from her home by a man known as 'The Black Panther'.

    A ransom note is found and Detective Chief Superintendent Robert Booth from West Mercia Police becomes involved in a race across the country to solve the rarest of crimes and bring the teenager home.

    The story is now retold by the people who lived through it and will never forget it.

    This series contains rare and original archive, some of which has not been broadcast since the time.

    Presenter: Susan Hanks. Producer: Susan Hanks and Rob Howell. Sounds Producer: Rob Howell. Story Consultant: Luke Eldridge. Online Producer: Rachael Smith. Executive Producers: Arran Bee and Aftab Gulzar. Commissioning Editor: Alistair Miskin.

    1 December 2025, 1:00 am
  • 12 minutes 28 seconds
    8. Not Alone

    What do you do when someone you trust turns out to not exist? 

    When ‘Chloe’ starts messaging other teenage girls on social media she is friendly. Fun. Interested. Soon she sends explicit photos, and asks her new friends to send some back. That’s when she changes and the blackmail begins. Because ‘Chloe’ isn’t a real girl. She’s a catfish. And her depraved demands have fatal consequences. 

    8 November 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 16 minutes 17 seconds
    7. Court

    What do you do when someone you trust turns out to not exist? 

    When ‘Chloe’ starts messaging other teenage girls on social media she is friendly. Fun. Interested. Soon she sends explicit photos, and asks her new friends to send some back. That’s when she changes and the blackmail begins. Because ‘Chloe’ isn’t a real girl. She’s a catfish. And her depraved demands have fatal consequences. 

    This episode features real online messages, read aloud by an AI voice. Find out more about how the BBC uses AI https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/reports/policies/approach-to-ai/

    1 November 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 17 minutes 2 seconds
    6. Cimarron, Part Two

    What do you do when someone you trust turns out to not exist? 

    When ‘Chloe’ starts messaging other teenage girls on social media she is friendly. Fun. Interested. Soon she sends explicit photos, and asks her new friends to send some back. That’s when she changes and the blackmail begins. Because ‘Chloe’ isn’t a real girl. She’s a catfish. And her depraved demands have fatal consequences. 

      This episode features real online messages, read aloud by an AI voice. Find out more about how the BBC uses AI https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/reports/policies/approach-to-ai/

    25 October 2025, 11:00 am
  • 15 minutes 41 seconds
    5. 3500

    What do you do when someone you trust turns out to not exist? 

    When ‘Chloe’ starts messaging other teenage girls on social media she is friendly. Fun. Interested. Soon she sends explicit photos, and asks her new friends to send some back. That’s when she changes and the blackmail begins. Because ‘Chloe’ isn’t a real girl. She’s a catfish. And her depraved demands have fatal consequences. 

    This episode features real online messages, read aloud by an AI voice. Find out more about how the BBC uses AI https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/reports/policies/approach-to-ai/

    18 October 2025, 11:00 am
  • 11 minutes 31 seconds
    4. Emily

    What do you do when someone you trust turns out to not exist? 

    When ‘Chloe’ starts messaging other teenage girls on social media she is friendly. Fun. Interested. Soon she sends explicit photos, and asks her new friends to send some back. That’s when she changes and the blackmail begins. Because ‘Chloe’ isn’t a real girl. She’s a catfish. And her depraved demands have fatal consequences. 

    11 October 2025, 11:00 am
  • 11 minutes 37 seconds
    3. Unmasking Chloe

    What do you do when someone you trust turns out to not exist? 

    When ‘Chloe’ starts messaging other teenage girls on social media she is friendly. Fun. Interested. Soon she sends explicit photos, and asks her new friends to send some back. That’s when she changes and the blackmail begins. Because ‘Chloe’ isn’t a real girl. She’s a catfish. And her depraved demands have fatal consequences. 

    4 October 2025, 11:00 am
  • 10 minutes 53 seconds
    2. Ivy and Violet

    What do you do when someone you trust turns out to not exist? 

    When ‘Chloe’ starts messaging other teenage girls on social media she is friendly. Fun. Interested. Soon she sends explicit photos, and asks her new friends to send some back. That’s when she changes and the blackmail begins. Because ‘Chloe’ isn’t a real girl. She’s a catfish. And her depraved demands have fatal consequences.

    This episode features real online messages, read aloud by an AI voice. Find out more about how the BBC uses AI https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/reports/policies/approach-to-ai/

    27 September 2025, 11:00 am
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