Real Cases. Real Cops. Real Talk.
Crime Time Inc.
Former detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean bring you inside Scotland's most gripping criminal cases. Real investigations. Real insight. No fluff.
5
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300+
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★ 5
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S7 · E12 · 25:03
Russell Brand Convicted of Rape: Fame, Power and the Evidence
Russell Brand has been convicted of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. But beyond the headlines, the case raises troubling questions about celebrity, institutional responsibility and the challenges of investigating sexual offences years after they occurred. In this episode of Crime Time Inc., former senior Scottish detectives Simon McLean and Tom Wood examine the case from a policing and investigative perspective. How did Metropolitan Police detectives build a successful prosecution involving allegations dating back many years? What role did independent witness accounts, historical records and circumstantial evidence play? And why do powerful public figures sometimes appear able to escape scrutiny for so long? Simon and Tom discuss: The investigation: How detectives reconstructed historical events and brought together evidence from separate complainants. Celebrity and institutional responsibility: Whether broadcasters, employers and the entertainment industry have been too willing to overlook unacceptable behaviour by high-profile personalities. The challenges facing victims: Why women may fear reporting sexual offences, particularly when the alleged perpetrator holds significant professional or social power. Rape myths and consent: Why the absence of physical resistance does not establish consent, and how misconceptions about victim behaviour can influence criminal proceedings. The law and policing: How the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences have changed over the decades, including a discussion of Scottish rape law. Sentencing: Recorded before the sentencing hearing, Simon and Tom give their predictions about the prison sentence Brand might receive. Drawing on decades of policing experience, they offer a frank discussion of evidence, consent, power and accountability. Post-recording update — 9 November 2026 This conversation was recorded on Sunday, 8 November 2026, before Russell Brand was sentenced. On Monday, 9 November, Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison. The jury had convicted him of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted of three other charges. About Crime Time Inc. Hosted by former senior Scottish police officers Tom Wood and Simon McLean, Crime Time Inc. takes listeners behind the headlines, drawing on real investigative experience to examine criminal cases, policing and the justice system. Visit: https://crimetimeinc.com Content advisory: This episode includes discussions of rape, sexual assault, victim experiences and descriptions of sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised. Books by Simon McLean & Tom Wood Discover the books written by Crime Time Inc.'s hosts, including true crime, undercover policing, historical investigations and crime fiction. View all their books and where to buy them: https://crimetimeinc.com/books About Crime Time Inc. Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic. This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history. Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E11 · 1:26:41
Robert Black: Inside the Hunt for a Serial Child Killer | Crime Time Inc. Live
A child disappears. A painstaking investigation stretches across years and multiple police forces. Then, on a quiet road in the Scottish Borders, a police officer makes a discovery that leaves a live audience gasping. In this special edition of Crime Time Inc., recorded before an audience at Milngavie Library in Scotland, former senior detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean take us behind the scenes of some of Britain's most challenging criminal investigations. Tom, a former Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police, gives a remarkable firsthand account of the hunt for serial child killer Robert Black. Beginning with the disappearance of Jennifer Cardy in Northern Ireland in 1981, he traces the investigations into the murders of Susan Maxwell, Caroline Hogg and Sarah Harper. He explains how detectives struggled to connect crimes committed hundreds of miles apart, and how innovative policing, new computer systems and the determination of senior investigator Hector Clark helped transform the investigation. The story culminates in the extraordinary events of July 1990, when Black was stopped in the Scottish Borders. Tom's account of what police discovered inside his van produces one of the most powerful moments of the evening. But the discussion goes far beyond Robert Black. Simon and Tom explore the realities of investigating serious crime, from the daily work of detectives gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses to the enormous responsibility carried by a Senior Investigating Officer. They also discuss their experiences of the World's End murders, the importance of keeping victims at the centre of true-crime storytelling, and the books they have written about their policing careers. The conversation then turns to organised crime and Scotland's drug crisis, where Simon and Tom agree on many of the problems but offer different perspectives on the solutions. Finally, questions from the audience bring fresh discussions about cold cases, forensic science, artificial intelligence, Bible John and the future of criminal investigations. Episode chapters — provisional timings 00:00 – Introduction: Simon and Tom at Milngavie Library 06:25 – Three types of murder investigation 07:00 – Jennifer Cardy: the first disappearance 09:20 – Susan Maxwell and the Scottish Borders investigation 15:00 – Caroline Hogg: a community in fear 21:00 – The Yorkshire Ripper lessons and the need for better systems 25:20 – Sarah Harper and the expanding hunt for a child killer 29:30 – Robert Black: the dramatic arrest in Stow 39:00 – Inside a major murder investigation 44:00 – The responsibility of a Senior Investigating Officer 49:00 – Crime Time Inc., the authors and their books 01:01:00 – Organised crime, drugs and Scotland's drug crisis 01:11:00 – Audience questions: cold cases, DNA, AI and Bible John About Crime Time Inc. Hosted by former Scottish detectives Simon McLean and Tom Wood, Crime Time Inc. explores true crime, landmark investigations, policing and criminal justice through the experiences of people who have worked on the frontline. Discover more episodes at https://crimetimeinc.com Recording note: This episode was captured live at Milngavie Library on a single iPhone and enhanced in post-production. Content note: Contains discussion of child abduction, murder and other serious crimes. Books by Simon McLean & Tom Wood Discover the books written by Crime Time Inc.'s hosts, including true crime, undercover policing, historical investigations and crime fiction. View all their books and where to buy them: https://crimetimeinc.com/books About Crime Time Inc. Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic. This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history. Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E10 · 1:05:54
Crime Time Inc LIVE: The World's End Murders & the War on Drugs
What does it really take to solve a murder? And after decades of fighting the war on drugs, is it time for a completely different approach? Crime Time Inc goes live! Recorded in front of an audience at Giffnock Library, Glasgow, on 22 October 2026, former Scottish detectives Tom Wood and Simon McLean share extraordinary stories from their policing careers, discuss notorious criminal investigations and challenge each other's views on some of the biggest issues facing the criminal justice system. The World's End Murders Tom opens with a moving account of the 1977 World's End murders, when two 17-year-old Edinburgh girls, Helen and Christine, were brutally murdered. Having been involved in the investigation over many years, Tom explains how painstaking detective work, advances in DNA technology and the remarkable foresight of forensic scientists eventually helped bring killer Angus Sinclair to justice. He also reminds us of something frequently forgotten in true crime: the devastating and lasting impact of murder on victims' families. True Crime, Crime Fiction and Scotland's Murderous Past Simon explains how his experiences as a young police officer inspired his crime novel Kintyre, while Tom challenges the way murder is often portrayed in popular crime fiction. The conversation moves through Tom's extensive historical research into the Dr Ruxton murders and his latest investigation into Edinburgh's notorious body snatchers, Burke and Hare. Could the true number of Burke and Hare's victims have been considerably higher than traditionally believed? Tom explains why his research has led him to question the accepted account. Scotland's Drugs Crisis — Two Detectives, Two Different Solutions The conversation takes a lively turn when Simon argues that decades of drug prohibition have failed and makes the case for decriminalisation, regulated supply and greater support for people affected by addiction. Tom agrees that policing alone cannot solve the problem, but questions whether legal regulation would achieve Simon's objectives. He argues instead for sustained, evidence-based policies combining enforcement, education, treatment and rehabilitation. The result is a passionate, occasionally hilarious exchange between two former detectives who agree on the seriousness of the problem but disagree on the solution. Questions From the Audience An engaged Giffnock audience puts Tom and Simon on the spot with questions about: How notorious criminals can remain free despite being well known to the police. The difference between police intelligence and evidence that can secure a conviction. The forensic breakthroughs that eventually helped solve the World's End murders. How police establish someone's true identity. The Emma Caldwell murder investigation, missed investigative opportunities and the dangers of tunnel vision. Throughout the evening, Tom and Simon bring their trademark combination of policing experience, candid opinions, Scottish humour and good-natured disagreement. A special live episode offering a rare opportunity to hear two experienced Scottish detectives sharing their knowledge directly with the public. Find more investigations, unsolved cases and informed detective analysis at crimetimeinc.com. Follow Crime Time Inc on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Content advisory: This episode includes discussion of murder, sexual violence, substance misuse and their effects on victims and families. Books by Simon McLean & Tom Wood Discover the books written by Crime Time Inc.'s hosts, including true crime, undercover policing, historical investigations and crime fiction. View all their books and where to buy them: https://crimetimeinc.com/books About Crime Time Inc. Season 5 of Crime Time Inc. broadens its reach across two sides of the Atlantic. This season features cases from Scotland and across the wider UK — rooted in real investigative experience — alongside deep dives into some of the most infamous murder cases in American history. Hosted by former detectives Simon and Tom, with experience in both the UK and the United States, including time working alongside the FBI, the show strips away sensationalism to explain how crime and justice really work. Two crime worlds. One podcast. New episodes released regularly throughout the season. Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/ If you like this show please leave a review. It really helps us. Please help us improve our Podcast by completing this survey. http://bit.ly/crimetimeinc-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Hosts
Straight From the Case Files
Tom Wood
Co-Host
Tom Wood is a retired detective, former Deputy Chief Constable and bestselling author of "Ruxton: The First Modern Murder". With decades of experience in Scottish law enforcement, Tom brings unparalleled insight into criminal investigations and forensic history.
Simon McLean
Co-Host
Simon McLean is a former detective and undercover cop. His experience spans organised crime, serious assault, and complex criminal networks across Scotland.
Chris Burt
Producer
Chris Burt is the producer of Crime Time Inc, handling all aspects of audio production, post-production, and digital content.
Listener Reviews
What Listeners Say
Absolutely Gripping
“Tom and Simon bring an authenticity to true crime that you just can't fake. Having two actual detectives walk you through these cases is incredible. Essential listening.”
— ScottishCrimeFan · Apple Podcasts
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