Share

cover art for The Michael Taylor Exorcism and the Murder of Christine Taylor | Ep. 263

British Murders with Stuart Blues

The Michael Taylor Exorcism and the Murder of Christine Taylor | Ep. 263

Ep. 263

In October 1974, 29-year-old Christine Taylor was living what appeared to be an ordinary family life with her husband, Michael, and their five young sons in the West Yorkshire village of Havercroft. Childhood sweethearts who had built a life together, nothing in Michael's past suggested the tragedy that was about to unfold. But after the couple became involved with a local Christian fellowship group, Michael's behaviour changed dramatically, leading those around him to believe he was under the influence of evil forces rather than suffering from a mental health crisis.


What followed became one of the most controversial cases in British criminal history. As ministers attempted an all-night exorcism to cast out dozens of alleged demons, concerns about Michael's increasingly erratic behaviour continued to grow. Within hours of the ritual ending, a shocking crime would spark national debate over demonic possession, exorcism, mental health conditions, and whether faith had been allowed to replace desperately needed medical intervention.


In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, we examine the murder of Christine Taylor. We explore the Taylor family's background, the rise of the occult and deliverance ministry in 1970s Britain, the controversial exorcism carried out in Barnsley, the police investigation, Michael Taylor's trial, the divisive verdict, and the lasting legacy of a case that continues to divide opinion more than 50 years later.


Exclusive content:

Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive Episodes


Follow the show:

British Murders with Stuart Blues


Disclaimer:

The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 276. A Teenage Double Murderer: The Killing of Rosalyn Hunt and Desmond Thorpe | Ep. 276

    35:08||Ep. 276
    In the summer of 2009, 15-year-old Lorraine Thorpe was living a life far removed from the childhood most people would recognise. Growing up around alcohol, drugs, homelessness and violence in Ipswich, Suffolk, Thorpe had become deeply involved with a group of vulnerable adults, including her dad, Desmond, man whose health had deteriorated to the point where his teenage daughter had taken on the role of his carer. But within this troubled group, tensions were building, and before long, two people would lose their lives.Over several days, violence inside a flat in Ipswich became increasingly extreme, leaving one vulnerable woman suffering horrific injuries. When another member of the group realised what had happened, he threatened to reveal what he knew, setting in motion a second chain of events with devastating consequences. As Suffolk Police began investigating the deaths of Rosalyn Hunt and Desmond Thorpe, detectives were faced with a complex case involving conflicting accounts, multiple suspects and a group of people whose lives had become entangled through addiction, dependency and violence.In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, I examine the murders of Rosalyn Hunt and Desmond Thorpe, the troubled background of Lorraine Thorpe, the people and circumstances surrounding the two deaths, and the investigation that followed. We look at the violence inside Rosalyn's flat, the evidence uncovered by Suffolk Police, the lengthy trial and the convictions that made Lorraine one of Britain's youngest female double murderers. It's a deeply disturbing story about neglect, addiction, vulnerability and violence, but at its heart are two people whose lives ended in horrific circumstances and a family left to deal with the consequences.Exclusive content:Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive EpisodesFollow the show:British Murders with Stuart BluesDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
  • 275. The Family Who Disappeared: The Chohan Family Murders | Ep. 275

    35:56||Ep. 275
    In February 2003, Amarjit Chohan and his family appeared to vanish without a trace. Amarjit was a successful businessman living in west London with his wife Nancy, their two young sons, Devinder and Ravinder, and Nancy’s mum, Charanjit Kaur, but when the entire family disappeared, leaving behind almost everything they would have needed for a life abroad, serious questions quickly began to emerge about what had really happened to them.At first, there were attempts to make it look as though Amarjit had simply decided to leave England and start a new life with his family back in his native India, but as detectives began pulling apart the evidence, they uncovered a much darker story. It involved Amarjit's haulage business, deception, organised crime and a group of people who appeared to have gone to extraordinary lengths to conceal the truth. The investigation would eventually stretch from west London to Wiltshire, Devon and the south coast, before crossing international borders as police hunted those believed to be responsible.In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, I examine the disappearance and murders of the Chohan family, the investigation by the Metropolitan Police and the evidence that eventually led detectives to the people responsible. We look at Amarjit and Nancy's lives, the strange circumstances surrounding their disappearance, the discovery of crucial evidence, the search for the missing family members and the lengthy Old Bailey trial that followed.Exclusive content:Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive EpisodesFollow the show:British Murders with Stuart BluesDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
  • 274. Killed by the People He Trusted: The Murder of Adam Vincent | Ep. 274

    34:27||Ep. 274
    In early 2011, 33-year-old Adam Vincent was living in the shadow of a heroin addiction in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Vulnerable, in poor health and increasingly dependent on the people around him, Adam became involved with a group running a local drug operation, but when the people around him became convinced that Adam had stolen from them or betrayed their trust, he found himself facing something far more dangerous than the addiction he was already struggling to escape.Over the following weeks, Adam's situation became increasingly frightening. People in the local community noticed that he was injured and terrified, while behind the doors of a house in Scartho, tensions within the drug operation were reaching a breaking point. When Adam disappeared, detectives were left trying to work out what had happened to him and why a group of men had gone to such extraordinary lengths to keep their secret hidden. What followed was a huge and complex murder investigation spanning Grimsby, the waterways of Lincolnshire and beyond.In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, I examine the murder of Adam Vincent, the drug operation surrounding him, and the investigation that eventually brought those responsible to justice. We look at Adam's life, his battle with heroin addiction, the events that led to his disappearance, the evidence uncovered by Humberside Police, and the lengthy trial that followed. It's a deeply disturbing story about addiction, organised crime, paranoia and criminal enforcement, but at its heart is a vulnerable man whose life was taken by people who believed they had the right to punish him.Exclusive content:Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive EpisodesFollow the show:British Murders with Stuart BluesDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
  • 273. Mary Bell: The 11-Year-Old Killer of Martin Brown and Brian Howe | Ep. 273

    50:19||Ep. 273
    In the summer of 1968, two little boys died within weeks of each other in the Scotswood area of Newcastle upon Tyne. Four-year-old Martin Brown was found dead inside a derelict house, while three-year-old Brian Howe disappeared from the streets where he lived before his body was discovered on a patch of wasteland known locally as the "Tin Lizzie". At first, the two deaths appeared to be separate tragedies, but as detectives began digging into Brian's murder, they uncovered a series of disturbing clues that would force them to look back at Martin's unexplained death.The investigation quickly became one of the most extraordinary murder inquiries in British criminal history. Police questioned more than a thousand local children, strange handwritten messages appeared to reveal knowledge of Martin's death, and detectives found themselves trying to work out whether the person responsible for Brian's murder could actually be another child. At the centre of the investigation were two young girls, Mary Bell and Norma Bell, whose friendship and behaviour had already attracted attention in the neighbourhood. As the evidence mounted, detectives were faced with a question that seemed almost impossible to answer. Could an eleven-year-old girl really be responsible for the deaths of two much younger children?In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, I examine the deaths of Martin Brown and Brian Howe, the investigation that unfolded across Scotswood in 1968, and the extraordinary evidence that eventually brought two children before the courts. We look at Mary Bell's troubled childhood, her friendship with Norma, the disturbing events that preceded the murders, the clues that turned police suspicion towards the girls, and the trial that captivated Britain. It's a deeply unsettling story about childhood, violence, abuse and the difficult question of whether someone so young can truly understand the consequences of their actions.Exclusive content:Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive EpisodesFollow the show:British Murders with Stuart BluesDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
  • 272. The Llandrindod Wells Murders of Fiona Ovis and William Crompton | Ep. 272

    35:47||Ep. 272
    In the early hours of May 2, 1996, police were called to a bungalow in Llandrindod Wells, Mid Wales, where they discovered the bodies of 28-year-old Fiona Ovis and 18-year-old William Crompton. Both had been brutally stabbed in what detectives described as a frenzied knife attack, leaving behind a shocking crime scene that would quickly become the focus of a murder investigation.As detectives began piecing together the events of that night, their attention turned to Fiona's complicated personal life and a relationship that appeared to have ended just days before the killings. Within hours, a 26-year-old man had been arrested, but as investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a disturbing story involving jealousy, obsession, mental health and a relationship that had ended in heartbreak.In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, we examine the murders of Fiona Ovis and William Crompton, the investigation into the Llandrindod Wells double murder, and the case against Andrew Cole. We explore Fiona and William's lives, their relationship, the events leading up to the murders, Cole's arrest and first trial, the controversial retrial that followed, and the psychiatric evidence that played a crucial role in the case. We also look at Cole's eventual release from prison and the events that followed, while remembering Fiona and William and the devastating impact their murders had on the people who knew and loved them.Exclusive content:Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive EpisodesFollow the show:British Murders with Stuart BluesDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
  • 271. A 38-Year Miscarriage of Justice: The Murder of Diane Sindall | Ep. 271

    32:46||Ep. 271
    On the night of August 1, 1986, 21-year-old Diane Sindall was making her way home across Birkenhead after finishing a shift at the Wellington Hotel. When her van ran out of petrol, Diane continued on foot along Borough Road. She was seen walking with a man shortly before she disappeared, and within hours, her body was discovered nearby. What followed was one of the most horrific murder investigations in Merseyside's history.Diane's murder triggered a huge police investigation and a desperate search for the man responsible. But as detectives worked to identify their suspect, the investigation took a devastating turn. Peter Sullivan, a vulnerable 29-year-old local man, was arrested and eventually convicted of Diane's murder. He would spend 38 years in prison maintaining his innocence, while the forensic evidence that could potentially identify the real killer remained beyond the capabilities of the technology available at the time.In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, I examine the murder of Diane Sindall, the investigation that followed, the conviction of Peter Sullivan and the extraordinary miscarriage of justice that robbed an innocent man of almost four decades of his life. We explore Diane's final movements, the hunt for her killer, the controversial police interrogation and evidence used against Sullivan, and the forensic breakthrough that finally changed everything. Above all, we remember Diane, a 21-year-old woman with a wedding to plan and dreams of opening her own florist shop, while examining the question that has haunted Merseyside for almost 40 years. Who really killed Diane Sindall?If you know something that could lead to the arrest of Diane’s killer, please contact Merseyside Police by calling 101, or pass information on anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.Exclusive content:Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive EpisodesFollow the show:British Murders with Stuart BluesDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
  • 270. They Arrested the Wrong Man: The Murders of Rachel Nickell, Samantha Bisset and Her Daughter Jazmine | Ep. 270

    49:24||Ep. 270
    On the morning of July 15, 1992, 23-year-old Rachel Nickell drove to Wimbledon Common with her two-year-old son Alex and their rescue dog Molly. It was an ordinary summer morning, and Wimbledon Common was a familiar place where Rachel could walk the dog, spend time with her little boy and enjoy the outdoors. But somewhere among the secluded paths, a man was watching. Within minutes, Rachel had been brutally attacked and murdered, while her young son was left beside her body.Rachel's murder triggered one of the biggest manhunts in British criminal history, but the investigation soon took a devastating turn. Police became convinced they had identified the killer in the form of local man Colin Stagg, despite having no forensic evidence linking him to the crime. As Colin's life was turned upside down, the real killer remained free, and another devastating chapter was still to come. Behind the scenes, a series of missed opportunities and failures to connect crucial intelligence had allowed a dangerous predator to slip through the net.In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, I examine the murders of Rachel Nickell, Samantha Bisset and four-year-old Jazmine Bisset, the investigation into the Green Chain rapes, and the wrongful prosecution of Colin Stagg. We explore Rachel's life, the brutal murder on Wimbledon Common, Operation Edzell, the police failures that allowed Robert Napper to remain free, the murders of Samantha and Jazmine, and the painstaking cold-case investigation that finally uncovered the truth. Above all, we remember Rachel, Samantha and Jazmine, while examining one of Britain's most notorious miscarriages of justice and asking how so many opportunities to stop their killer were missed.Exclusive content:Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive EpisodesFollow the show:British Murders with Stuart BluesDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
  • 269. The Irvine Triple Fire Murders: Three Young Lives Stolen | Ep. 269

    23:46||Ep. 269
    In the early hours of March 24, 2001, six people were asleep inside an upstairs flat in the Ayrshire town of Irvine when a fire suddenly tore through the building. Within minutes, their only escape route had been engulfed in flames, leaving those trapped inside with impossible decisions to make. By the time firefighters brought the blaze under control, three young women had lost their lives and a quiet Scottish neighbourhood had become the scene of one of the country's most shocking murder investigations.As detectives searched for answers, they uncovered a disturbing trail of threats, intimidation and simmering resentment that pointed towards a local man with a growing obsession over his neighbours. What initially appeared to be a devastating house fire soon became something far more sinister, exposing the deadly consequences of hatred, vigilantism and a belief that one man could take justice into his own hands.In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, we examine the Andrew Affleck case, also known as the Irvine triple fire murders. We explore the lives of Carrie Marie Murray, Anna-Teraysa Murray and Amanda Cooper, the events that led to the fatal blaze on Sanderson Avenue, the remarkable survival of those who escaped, the police investigation, the evidence that secured Andrew Affleck's conviction, and the appeals that followed. Above all, we remember the three young women whose lives were stolen in an act of unimaginable violence that continues to cast a long shadow over Irvine more than two decades later.Exclusive content:Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive EpisodesFollow the show:British Murders with Stuart BluesDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
  • 268. The Case That Changed the Law: The Murder of Helen McCourt | Ep. 268

    48:46||Ep. 268
    On February 9, 1988, 22-year-old Helen McCourt finished work early at an insurance office in Liverpool. She phoned her mum to say she was on her way home and asked if her tea could be ready, as she was looking forward to getting ready for a date that evening. After catching her usual train and bus back to the village of Billinge on Merseyside, Helen got off at her regular stop, less than 500 yards from her front door. She was never seen alive again.What followed was one of the most significant murder investigations in British criminal history. Detectives uncovered a remarkable trail of forensic evidence that pointed them towards a local pub landlord, despite the fact that Helen's body had vanished without a trace. The investigation would help shape the future use of DNA evidence in murder trials and ultimately inspire a change in the law, but for Helen's family, one heartbreaking question has never been answered.In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, I examine the murder of Helen McCourt, the investigation that led to the conviction of Ian Simms, and the extraordinary "no body" murder case that changed British legal history. We explore Helen's life, her final journey home, the painstaking forensic investigation, the trial, the years-long search for her remains, and Marie McCourt's tireless campaign that led to the introduction of Helen's Law. Above all, we remember Helen as the kind, caring young woman whose family are still waiting to bring her home more than three decades later.Exclusive content:Patreon - Ad Free, Early Access, Exclusive EpisodesFollow the show:British Murders with Stuart BluesDisclaimer:The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.