Podcast focus on abduction

THE chilling abduction of Stephanie Slater will be examined in a new BBC podcast 30 years after the estate agent was taken from a Birmingham property.

Asking if women are truly safer today than when the 25-yearold was snatched, The Kidnapping of Stephanie Slater looks at the case through a modern lens.

The seven part series, hosted by Andy Whittaker and Dr Julia Shaw, looks at the infamous crime in the context of recent killings of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa.

Stephanie, then 25, pictured, was kidnapped by Michael Sams at knifepoint during a property viewing in 1992 in Great Barr. The terrified estate agent was then taken to Nottinghamshire, raped and held ransom for £175,000.

Shipways Estate Agency paid the amount to Sams who then released Slater. He was eventually arrested and handed four life sentences for the crime, largely thanks to the evidence Stephanie was able to provide, including a e-fit sketch which led to Sams’ capture. Sadly the trauma of the incident never left her. She died in 2017 from cancer aged 50. She did however work extensively with police before her death, to improve services for victims of crime, particularly victims of kidnapping. Whittaker said: “When Stephanie returned it was massive and she became famous overnight. Her name means something but a whole generation don’t know her.

“I want to bring her story to a new generation. I used a lot of archives and BBC footage, you will feel a connection with her. The important message is what has changed for women and lone workers? Are we safer now that we have phones?”

The podcast is available now on BBC Sounds.