4 chilling cases Crimewatch helped to solve as show marks 40 years

Hundreds of criminals have been brought to justice thanks to viewer tip-offs

SINCE it first aired in 1984 Crimewatch has broadcast more than 700 programmes and helped bring hundreds of criminals to justice.

High profile cases covered include the murder of Julie Dart in 1991, the killing of James Bulger in 1993, the death of Sarah Payne in 2000 and the murder of seven-year-old Toni-Ann Byfield five years later.

Here we take a look at the big cases Crimewatch helped to solve.

JAMIE BULGER

Two-year-old James Bulger was snatched from a shopping centre in Bootle, Merseyside, on 12 February 1993 whilst out with his mother.

He was taken by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, who were just 10 years old themselves.

CCTV showed the pair leading James away by his hand. Soon after, they beat him with bricks and iron bars, before leaving his body on a railway line.

It took two days before police discovered the toddler’s body.

After the footage was shown on Crimewatch, the two boys were identified by viewers, and convicted of James’ murder in November 1993.

SARAH PAYNE

The disappearance of eight-year-old Sarah Payne on 1 July 2000 led to 16 days of frantic searching before her body was discovered.

Sarah had been walking home from her grandparents’ house through a field in Kingston Gorse, West Sussex, when she went missing, and was never seen alive again.

Crimewatch carried out two appeals and in both rounds, Roy Whiting was named as a prime suspect.

Fibres from a patterned curtain were found on Sarah’s shoe and a viewer recognised the fabric, as she had left it in a van her boyfriend sold to Whiting.

In 2001, Whiting was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison.

THE M25 RAPIST

The motorway surrounding the capital became the focus of a manhunt in 2001 and 2002 when a number of attacks were carried out on women.

The incidents took place in Kent, Surrey, London and the Thames Valley, and included a victim as young as 10.

An e-fit picture was shown on Crimewatch in October 2002 to try to track down the serial sexual attacker.

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A viewer recognised the face and directed police to Antoni Imiela.

He was originally called the Trophy Rapist, as he took items of clothing from the victims as souvenirs.

The 50-year-old was sent to prison for a minimum of 99 years for his crimes, which included seven rapes, kidnap, indecent assault and attempted rape.

LIN & MEGAN RUSSELL

Lin Russell was on a walk in Nonington, Kent, with her two daughters - nine-year-old Josie and six-year-old Megan - when they were attacked by a man with a hammer on 9 July 1996.

Josie was left for dead, but managed to survive. However, her mother and sister were both killed.

Crimewatch showed a reconstruction of the attack in September and presented the public with an e-fit of the perpetrator.

A year on from the crime, the programme made a further appeal for people who worked in mental health who might have been able to help.

Among 600 calls from the public, one proved to be the key to solving the case and Michael Stone was arrested before being convicted of both murders.

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