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Claire Hornby and Rachel Watkyn grew up in a household where they were told their we Baronesses. Rachel's father Graham Gaisburgh-Watkyn, told everyone that his real name was Count de Lengham and that they were members of aristocracy. But when Graham died, the sisters found his 'box of secrets' and soon learned that everything they thought they knew about their lives, was a lie. This is REAL LIVES. TRIGGER WARNING: Please note this episode contains references to child sexual abuse and domestic violence. To buy Claire and Rachel's book 'The Baronesses: A True Story of Sisterhood, Survival and A Secret The Re-Wrote Their Past https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-baronesses/rachel-watkyn/claire-hornby/9781408722169 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Baronesses-sisterhood-survival-secret-rewrote/dp/140872216X If you'd like to join us over on Patreon, please see here: www.patreon.com/realtruecrimepodcast If you have been affected by sexual abuse, please see the below organisations that offer support, advice and information: https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org - For people who have been the victim of sexual abuse (UK) https://www.rainn.org/ - Sexual Abuse Support USA https://www.nasasv.org.au/support-directory - Sexual Abuse Support Australia https://www.rcni.ie/useful-links/ - Sexual Abuse Support Ireland If you need help or support with domestic abuse please get in touch with the following organisations: https://havendas.org.uk/ - UK https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ - UK https://mankind.org.uk/ - Support for male victims https://safelives.org.uk/ - UK https://www.victimsupportni.com/help-for-victims/domestic-violence/ - Northern Ireland https://mapni.co.uk/ - Northern Ireland for men https://sdvs.ie/ - Ireland https://www.mensaid.ie/ - Ireland for men https://www.lifewire.org/ - USA https://www.thehotline.org/resources/men-can-be-victims-of-abuse-too/ - USA for men https://www.rizeup.com.au/ - Australia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I am joined by former Detective David Swindle, to talk though some of the cases he worked on during his time in the Scottish Police, including being catching serial killer Peter Tobin. https://scottishdetective.com/ https://www.davidswindle.com/ To see my other shows please see here: https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast To Support the show on Patreon, please see here: https://linktr.ee/realtruecrimepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diane Rourke has spent her career helping to solve serious crimes across England. From working as a crime scene investigator to working in counter-terrorism, she then led a team to stop Firework Abuse in the North West of England. She is now retired but is now working to try to prevent the harm and devastation she witnessed when working on crime scenes through her work with the Black Onyx Academy. This is REAL LIVES. To find out more about Black Onyx Academy, please see here: www.blackonyxacademy.com And to join Patreon, please see here, thank you: www.patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Holgate spent over 25 years working in the police force, with a majority of them on the front line in Kent Police's dog unit. He is here today to tell us about his time on the force and how he found dangerous criminals, killers and missing people with his four-legged colleague Zack. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to support the show, you can join my Patreon community here: www.patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we are joined by Dr Josh McConkey, an emergency doctor who has worked on the front line, both in hospitals and in war zones. From suicides and murder victims, delivering babies and removing objects from places they shouldn't be, this conversation is fascinating, but for Dr Josh, this is everyday life. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to support the show you can find my Patreon here, thank you: https://www.patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast Dr Josh can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/joshmcconkeymd/?hl=en His book can be purchased here: https://www.weightbehindthespear.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we are joined by a former FBI detective, Shawn Johnson and former bank robber Steven Meyers. Steven was part of a team of bank robbers, led by Scott Scurlock, who stole millions of dollars from banks across Seattle, Washington. But since his release from prison, Steven and one of the detectives who put him in prison, have become firm friends. Both are here today to tell us of their incredible story. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here, thank you: https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast To buy Steven's book The Treehouse: www.amazon.com/Treehouse-True-Story-Hollywood-Robber-ebook/dp/B0FV28G4C7 Steven's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/steven.meyers.7773/ Steven's Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/steven.meyers.7773/reels/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duncan McNab was a detective for New South Wales Police - but when he witnessed corruption, he decided to change sides. He worked as a private investigator and journalist to expose wrong-doing and today he's here to share his story. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to join me over on Patreon, please see here, thank you so much: https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast To follow Duncan on social media, please see here: https://www.instagram.com/duncan_mcnab_crime_stories https://www.facebook.com/duncan.mcnab.336 https://x.com/DuncanMcNab And you can find his book, Recipe for Murder: The poisonous truth behind Australia's Mushroom Murderer, here: https://amzn.eu/d/0hsDZQDv Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Anna started to feel unwell eight years ago, she knew deep down that something wasn't right. She would constantly seek help from doctors, begging them to help her find out what was wrong. Anna believes that medical misogyny was partly to blame for cries for help, because the problems she was experiencing were gynaecological. Finally, after eight years, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Anna is here today to share her story, in the hopes that no one else will have to fight a battle to be heard, when they know something isn't right. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here, thank you: https://www.patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast For Sarcoma UK, see here: https://sarcoma.org.uk/ For Macmillan cancer support see here: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ Health Advocate Services: https://www.advocacyforall.org.uk/one-to-one-advocacy/health-complaints-advocacy/ https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/help-from-social-services-and-charities/someone-to-speak-up-for-you-advocate/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we are joined by Jo Alkir; her only child, 17-year-old Olivia went out with her friends to celebrate the end of her exams, but she never made it home. Olivia was killed after getting into a car with a boy who had passed his driving test the day before, and made the reckless decision to race his friend. That decision would claim Olivia's life. Jo is here to tell us about that fateful day, the court case and Olivia's Legacy, as she campaigns for safer driving. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here, thank you: https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast To visit Jo's website, please see here: https://olivia-alkir.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When TJ Higgs was a single mother in her twenties, she went along to a psychic fair and it changed her life. She realised she had a gift and she wanted to use it for good. So she started working as a spiritual medium and after a few years of practicing, she was invited to try to help families who were looking for answers in their loved ones unsolved murder cases. This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to find out more about TJ Higgs, please see here: https://www.tjhiggs.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Sonnet Daymont attended a job interview to be a live-in assistant and nanny to a little boy, she had no idea how much her life would change. Her new employer was Gigi Jordan, who went on to kill her son Jude, who suffered with a range of learning disabilities. Sonnet had tried to get help after she suspected the little boy was being abused, but flaws in the social care system meant that potentially life-saving intervention never came. Since Jude died, Sonnet has worked across a number of project to try to have a national database instated, that would span across state lines, to ensure children remain under the care of protective services, if they should move to another jurisdiction. Sonnet is a therapist who works with clients who have experienced relational trauma and is an advocate for post-traumatic growth. This is REAL LIVES. To find out more about Sonnet's work or to be added to her book list, please see here: https://www.sonnetdaymont.com/ To join me on Patreon, please see here: https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Orla met a man in a bar in France, she had no idea how much that meeting would change her life. They started dating and she travelled around the world with him, so he could pursue his career. But he soon started to control Orla, he was emotionally abusive and was doing everything he could to cut her off from her friends and family... including trying to convince her that had been abused as a child. After years of manipulation and abuse, she decided to leave him. But instead of accepting that that their relationship was over, he orchestrated a plan.... to have her sectioned and held against her will.... This is REAL LIVES. If you'd like to join me over on Patreon, you can do so here, thank you so much: https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in today's episode, please see the links to organisations who can help and support you: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/ - UK https://mankind.org.uk/ - Support for male victims https://safelives.org.uk/ - UK https://www.victimsupportni.com/help-for-victims/domestic-violence/ - Northern Ireland https://mapni.co.uk/ - Northern Ireland for men https://sdvs.ie - Ireland https://www.mensaid.ie - Ireland for men https://www.lifewire.org/ - USA https://www.thehotline.org/resources/men-can-be-victims-of-abuse-too/ - USA for men https://www.rizeup.com.au/ - Australia https://mensline.org.au/family-violence/ - Australia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between 2022 - 2025, at least 70 police officers in England and Wales took their own lives. When Ben Dimmock joined the police, he knew he wanted to help others and serve his community. But after years in the force, seeing traumatic incidents and running towards danger, his mental health started to decline, and he started having suicidal thoughts. But he bravely confided in his superiors and after his own recovery, he asked Bedfordshire Police if he could be their wellbeing lead. Now Ben and his team work with officers who are feeling the way he once did, supporting them on the road to recovery. This is REAL LIVES. To join me on Patreon please see here, thank you: https://patreon.com/REALtruecrimepodcast For mental health support, please see here: https://thejordanlegacy.com/ https://www.mind.org.uk/ - Mental health & Identity support https://www.spuk.org.uk/ - Suicide Prevention UK https://www.samaritans.org/ - The Samaritans https://988lifeline.org/ - Suicide Prevention USA https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/ - Suicide Prevention Australia https://www.pieta.ie/ - Suicide Prevention Ireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.