Lucy Osborne

The Guardian reports that the BBC was warned by journalist Eileen Fairweather and Ian Heffron, an uncle of Nicola Fellows, that true-crime author Christopher Berry-Dee had claimed to possess Karen Hadaway’s missing clothes. Hadaway and Fellows were murdered in Brighton in 1986, and the clothing was later obtained by Martin Bashir for a BBC documentary project before disappearing. Berry-Dee confirmed he had obtained the clothes and claimed he later burned them, but did not clarify the timeline. The BBC apologized to Hadaway’s mother and paid a settlement over the loss, while saying the matter had been investigated as thoroughly as possible; it declined to explain what action it took after receiving the warnings. Berry-Dee also faces multiple allegations of sexual and violent offenses, which he denies.

A six-month Guardian investigation examines allegations that bestselling true crime author Christopher Berry-Dee subjected women and children to domestic violence and sexual abuse, including claims by his former wife Tracey Dee, daughters Sasha and Zoe, former student Helen, and stepdaughter Tracy Hurdle. Berry-Dee denies abusing Tracey, denies a sexual relationship with Helen and rejects Sasha’s allegation, while police and prosecution records show earlier reports, an unsuccessful prosecution decision and a Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority award to Helen on the balance of probabilities. The investigation also questions Berry-Dee’s methods and credibility, including disputed quotations attributed to serial killers, alleged mistreatment of victims’ families, controversial handling of crime-scene material and graphic, misogynistic depictions in his books. Sasha’s later police complaint had not progressed to a completed interview at the time described. Berry-Dee declined an interview, citing ill health, but said he had committed none of the alleged crimes.