In 1994, Nick was new to Chesham. He befriended the landlord of the Black Cat pub, and would occasionally help out behind the bar.

One day, when Nick was the only person on shift, a man walked into the pub and told the regulars they would see him on the TV news that night. He returned later that evening, but this time he was armed with two hand grenades and a machete.

Nick kept the man talking for several hours as he told of his marriage beakdown and fiddled with the release pins on the grenades. Meanwhile, terrified punters were escaping through the window in the Gents, and police marksmen were gathering in the carpark...

This is a tale of Hollywood drama in the heart of the Buckinghamshire countryside.

Now, Nick tells his story, for the very first time.

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Artwork by Spencer Wilson

Music by Premium Beat

Theme: Noir Guitar by Jonathan Boyle

Tracks featured in this episode:

• Dark Encounters by Lost Harmonies
• Hard Decisions by Lost Harmonies
• Car Chase by Wolves
• Stay There by Nicklaus Vogel

Outro: Like Thunder by Colin Fraser

Peter Sutcliffe terrorised West Yorkshire in the late 1970s, killing 13 women and attacking many more.

He was caught nearly fifty years ago - and he's been dead for five - but his face is still instantly recognisable. His name synonymous with evil and brutality.

Writers Sally-Anne Martyn and Daniel Sellers were both just children at the time of Sutcliffe's crimes, but grew up in the heartlands of Yorkshire and watched as their families and communities were devastated by the man the media dubbed The Ripper.

The Sutcliffe case has had a lasting impact on the criminal justice system and influenced the way we look at prejudices in society, particularly the way victims are portrayed.

But it has also had a profound effect on the way Daniel and Sally Anne write.

In Daniel's crime novels and Sally Anne's psychological thrillers, the ghost of Sutcliffe is ever-present. The Shadow in The North.

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Artwork by Spencer Wilson

Music by Premium Beat

Theme: Noir Guitar by Jonathan Boyle

Tracks featured in this episode:

• True Crime by Tea Time
• Night Falls by Lost Harmonies
• Blueprints by Tom Olivier
• Whispers in the Attic by Cosmo Lawson

Outro: Wild Mountain Thyme by Harpo Marks

Tom visits Reading Magistrates Court with his old university friend Sian.

In the dock are those accused of drug dealing, shoplifting, jumping bail and a whole range of other crimes and misdemeanours. The Court hustles and bustles with lawyers, legal advisors, police officers, translators, and robed attendants, but there is no doubt who is in charge: A no-nonsense, middle-aged Irishwoman sits right in the middle of proceedings, and though hers is a voluntary position and she's never studied at the Bar, her word is the Law.

Magistrates are a vital part of the British legal system. They are the first port of call for defendants in 95% of criminal cases - from terrorists to those accused of speeding.

For Sian, it is her first taste of what to expect when SHE takes up the position of Magistrate. Her application is in, and she's waiting for a vacancy to come up in her local area.

It's almost like her entire career has been leading to this moment. Calling her to the Bench.

If you have any story ideas for future episodes of Caught Up in Crime - you can email them to caughtupincrime@gmail.com or contact me at tom@shinebrighterconsulting.co.uk

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Artwork by Spencer Wilson

Music by Premium Beat

Theme: Noir Guitar by Jonathan Boyle

Tracks featured in this episode:

• Timeless Piano by Immersive Music
• Sweet Little Things by Jack Pierce
• A Palace in the Pines by Big Score Audio
• Ticking Time by Eskimotion