True Crime Documentaries About UK Serial Killers
When you think of Great Britain you probably imagine grey skies, rather unique food, afternoon tea and a general air of manners and uncalled for politeness. What you don't normally associate with the island are heinous serial killers. However, for some reason, yet to be defined, the country has produced a slew of some of history's most reviled multi-murderers.
British serial killers seem to push the boundaries of depravity. And yet, many have done so under the veneer of a stereotypical English gentlemen. And, even more outrageously, the United Kingdom has given birth to an inordinate number of female serial killers. The following documentaries are absolute must-watches for fans of the true-crime genre. From family doctors to suburban couples, prepare not to sleep after watching these jaw-dropping documentaries exposing the wicked psyche of some of the UK's most despicable serial killers.
Dr. Death
Harold Shipman is probably the most prolific, yet little known, serial killer. This hour-long true crime documentary explores the criminal investigation and trial of Harold Shipman, an English family doctor who hid in plain sight, murdering an estimated 100 plus of his patients. The documentary features interviews with former police officers, forensic experts, journalists, and relatives of Shipman’s victims, as well as footage of Shipman himself. It'll certainly give you pause for thought next time you visit your local doctor.
It was only when a local undertaker noticed an inordinate percentage of the doctor's patients were dying suddenly at home that Shipman's crimes came to light. If it wasn't for the eagle eye of the undertaker, Shipman may have been murdering with impunity for years to come considering he was the one who signed the death certificates for all his victims. The documentary begins with the interviews with those who raised the alarm with their suspicions regarding the 'good doctor'.
It explores the forensic evidence that linked the ghoulish general practitioner to hundreds of murders, using a statistical analysis of death certificates, a toxicological examination of exhumed bodies, and even a psychological profile of Shipman’s personality. It also recounts the trial where he was charged with 15 counts of murder and one count of forgery. However, it's estimated that Shipman murdered many more, with some estimating his body county to be in the 100s. The doco also looks at the aftermath of the verdict and how the system in the UK enabled a man like Shipman to do what he did for so long.
The Moors Murders
Myra Hindley and Ian Brady are without a doubt Britain's most infamous serial killers. The seemingly normal working-class couple from West England were in fact two monsters who abused, tortured and killed at least 5 children in the 1960s. They buried their victims bodies in a nearby moors, hence earning the title of the Moors Murderers. Not only did they target children, but their brutality and violence towards their vulnerable targets shocked the nation. To this day, the body of one of their victims is still unknown, but thought to be located somewhere on the expansive killing ground of Saddleworth Moor.
You won't be falling into a comforting slumber after watching this harrowing documentary which features chilling eye witness accounts, never-before-seen prison letters, and expert analysis of the killers’ psychology and motives. The docu shows how the police used letter and photos which Brady and Hindley exchanged in prison to find the remains of two of their young victims. It also covers the trial of the couple and their attempts to not only be paroled, but also to be buried on the Moor where they did their killings. All the while, they refused to divulge the location of the missing remains of a young boy whose life they took for their twisted pleasure.
Their actions were only brought to light when a friend of Hindley witnessed the couple murder a young boy in their home. Their friend alerted the police who arrested the couple and searched the house where they found a tape recording of the torture and killing of a 10-year-old girl, along with photos of the killers posing on the moors, where they buried their victims.
The Pembrokeshire Murders: Catching the Game Show Killer
The Pembrokeshire Murders reveals the story behind the capture of serial killer John Copper who murdered four people in the 1980s. It was his appearance on a nationwide game show that provided police with a vital piece of evidence that ultimately enabled them to successfully bring the murderer to justice. The documentary shows how a 30 year old cold case was successfully solved due to new forensic techniques and how the killer's clothes on a tv show led to his capture.
The documentary shows how in 2006, a police detective reopened the cold case of the Pembrokeshire murders believing that advances in forensic science could help shed light on the murders which occurred in South West Wales. The series shows how the cold case team identified Cooper as a suspect, based on his criminal history, his appearance, and his proximity to the crime scenes. But it was the unearthed footage of the suspect who appeared on a game show in 1989 wearing a jacket that matched the one worn by the killer, that caught the tabloid headlines who then gave the serial killer the nickname The Gameshow Killer.
The documentary shows how Cooper tried to evade detection by burning his clothes, changing his appearance, and planting false evidence. The series covers the trial of Cooper showing how the prosecution presented the evidence and the testimony of the witnesses, as well as exploring the impact of the case on the victims’ families. It also raises the very likely possibility that Cooper may have killed more people, including his neighbor.
Watch The Pembrokeshire Murders
Jack The Ripper: Tabloid Killer
This documentary takes a unique look at one of the world's most talked about, and reported about serial killers — Jack The Ripper. In 1888, the shadowy murderous figure terrorized sex workers in the East End of London. The murderer reportedly killed 5 women and was the first killer to gain national and international attention due to the advent of tabloid press. While there are have numerous movies and documentaries about the unidentified killer, this docu takes a look at the murders from a different viewpoint asking the question whether it was one person responsible for the killings or whether the media created a legend to sell papers.
The documentary begins by introducing the victims of Jack the Ripper, all of whom were impoverished women living on the margins society. It takes a look at the police investigation which was widely slammed by the burgeoning media of the time who reported on the ineptitude of the recently created police force, as well as suggesting that corruption within the authorities involved hampered the search for truth. The documentary then focuses on the letters that were sent to newspapers claiming to be from the killer, who signed off using the moniker Jack the Ripper. This documentary questions the authenticity of these letters and goes as far as to suggests that they were written by journalists to boost circulation of the papers they worked for.
Jack The Ripper: Tabloid Killer also analyzes the mutilations inflicted on the victims, which were often exaggerated or distorted by the press. Over the years, the legend was born that the killer must have had a substantial knowledge of human anatomy. However, according to this true-crime series, the the women were simply slashed and stabbed in a random manner. No matter what you believe or don't believe, this documentary certainly puts the generally accepted Jack The Ripper hypothesis to the test and makes you rethink what you thought you knew about the historic murder case.
Yorkshire Ripper: The Secret Murders
In the 1980s, Peter Sutcliffe, aka The Yorkshire Ripper was convicted of the brutal murders of 13 women and horrifically injuring 7 more. This documentary follows the bungled investigation by the police as they hunted the serial killer and asks whether in fact he was responsible for an additional 20 unsolved murders and attempted murders. From false leads to incompetent policing, the Yorkshire Ripper case has since become synonymous with how a serial killer investigation shouldn't be carried out.
The documentary is based on the book by the same name which claims Sutcliffe began his killing spree much earlier than is believed. In fact, the series shows how it could be that he began killing at the end of the 1960s and killed not only women, but also children of both sexes. However, the focus of the two-part documentary is more on the failure of the police at the time who although arrested and questioned Sutcliffe several times during the period he was active, released him as they thought he wasn't connected with the kills.
It is a series which uses hindsight much to its advantage. It shows how the thought at the time that all the women were prostitutes (which they weren't) led the police to downplay the murderers. There was no evidence that several of the women were sex workers, their biggest crime was simply to be working class women and single parents. It was only when a young girl of a middle-class family fell prey to the Ripper, that the investigation grabbed the attention of the public and the police realized that they may have indeed been following the wrong train of thought.
The Real Des (Dennis Nilson)
Dennis Nilson was a British serial killer who murdered some 16 men in the 1980s. The true number of his victims will never be known. He confessed to killing 15 or 16 (he couldn't quite remember the actual count) but was convicted of six murder and two attempted murders. The documentary provides an insight into Nilsen’s mind and motives, as well as the impact of his crimes on the society and the victims’ families. It also contrasts the dramatized version of Nilsen’s story with the real facts and evidence.
The true-crime movie reveals how Nilsen lured young men to his apartment, where he strangled, drowned, or suffocated them, and then kept their bodies for weeks or months, performing rituals such as washing, dressing, and talking to them. The film also examines how Nilsen was eventually caught, when a plumber discovered human remains in the drains of his building. If it wasn't for the plumber, chances are Nilsen could have continued his murderous spree for much longer as no-one had any idea that there was a serial killer at work.
The Real Des documentary contains exclusive interviews with those who were involved or interested in Nilsen’s case, such as criminologists, journalists, police officers, and victims’ relatives. It also features previously unseen archive footage, including Nilsen’s own confession tapes and his 1992 interview from prison. What surprised many was that Dennis Nilsen by all appearances was a mild-mannered civil servant and was even briefly a police officer. It goes to show that not all monsters are apparently obvious.
Trevor McDonald and the Killer Nurse
Trevor McDonald, one of the UK's most revered journalists and broadcasters takes at the case of Beverley Allitt, a nurse who murdered four young children and attempted to kill 9 others who were all in her care in hospital. The documentary follows the timeline of Allitt’s crimes, from her first attack on a seven-week-old baby, to her last on a five-year-old boy, who survived despite being injected with insulin and air. The film exposes how Allitt managed to evade suspicion for so long, despite the alarming number of incidents and deaths on her ward.
The murderous spree of Allitt could have ended much sooner if it wasn't for the cover-up by hospital officials who tried to sweep the deaths under the carpet despite the objection of suspicious medical personnel on the ward. In an objective and sensitive manner, Sir Trevor McDonald examines why no-one in authority raised the alarm, even as several members of the hospital urged the board to investigate what seemed like an inordinate number of unexplained deaths on the children's ward in the local hospital.
The documentary features exclusive interviews with the detectives who caught Allitt, the experts who examined her, and the families of the victims who suffered from her actions. The film also plays back Allitt’s police interview tapes for the first time since her arrest, revealing her lies and manipulations. This isn't a sensationalist documentary about a child-killing nurse, rather an in-depth look at the why, how and 'what if's' that came about following her arrest and subsequent conviction.
Rose West: Born Evil?
Fred and Rose West were without a doubt two of not only the UK's most despicable and depraved serial killers, but probably two of the world's most reviled murderers. This documentary examines the crimes committed by them, with a focus on Rose's role in their killing spree. The Wests' tortured, raped, and murdered at least 12 young women, including their own daughter, burying their victims’ bodies under their house at 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester, England, an address which today is known as the 'House of Horrors'.
The documentary questions whether Rose was born evil or a product of her upbringing. It discusses the psychological factors that may have influenced her behavior, such as psychopathy, narcissism, and sadism. It also considers the role of gender and society in shaping her identity and perception. It tries to find out what led a seemingly normal girl turn into a monstrous mother. What the movie shows is that a series of events ultimately twisted her view of the world and when she met her husband, a man whose depravity matched hers, it was just a matter of time before they turned their twisted fantasies into horrific realities.
The couple had killed with impunity with no-one aware of the sadistic acts taking place in the house. It was almost 15 years after their last kill, in 1994, that the police heard a rumor that one of their daughters, Heather, who reportedly disappeared in 1987 was buried under their patio. When the police arrived to investigate the rumors they found not only Heathers remained, but a further 11 bodies buried in the garden of the house.
Tobin: Portrait of a Serial Killer
Peter Tobin was one of the Britain's most prolific serial killers. He was convicted of just three murders which took place between 1991 to 2006, though his body count is estimated to be much higher, with a suspected 48 people falling victim to his sadistic nature. He was by all accounts a 'charming psychopath', married three times and fathered 3 children, all the while raping young women, ultimately killing one and hiding her body under the floorboards of a room in the church he was working at.
The documentary provides a comprehensive and detailed account of Tobin’s history of violence, deception, and manipulation, as well as the challenges and breakthroughs of the police investigation. The documentary also explores the psychological profile of Tobin, who experts condemn as a sexual sadist, and a religious fanatic. The film also raises the question of whether Tobin is the infamous Bible John, a serial killer who targeted young women in Glasgow, Scotland in the late 1960s.
Tobin: Portrait of a Serial Killer features interviews with detectives, forensic experts, criminologists, and Tobin’s ex-wife, as well as archival footage of Tobin and some of his victims. It was DNA that convicted Tobin when policed uncovered the body in the church and were able to match DNA found at the scene to Tobin. By this time he had long fled the area and moved south to London. Authorities were tipped off to where he was by a woman who recognized him from a photo released by the media.
Conclusion
Just when you thought you'd seen and heard it all, these hidden gems about British serial killers show that no matter how evil you thought people could be, they'll always surprise you with their depths of depravity. For some reason, the Brits just seem to to take things to the next level when it comes to sadistic surprises. While the USA has three times more serial killers per population compared to the UK, the Brits make up for quantity in cruelty, killing in the most horrendous fashions, all under the veneer of a charming, polite facade. To start your journey, we suggest starting with the Dr. Death documentary.
