Digest

This episode of Red-Handed features a story swap with the hosts of Wine and Crime, Lucy and Amanda. The episode focuses on the theme of "Bad Brits," with each podcast sharing a case about individuals from the UK who have committed crimes or exhibited questionable behavior. Lucy from Wine and Crime shares the story of William Hughes, a man who committed a violent attack at a leisure center in the Peak District, escaped from prison, and then attacked a prison warden with a knife. The episode delves into the details of the attack, Hughes's violent history, and his escape from HMP Leicester. It also discusses the challenges faced by the UK prison system, including overcrowding, underfunding, and lack of proper security measures. The second story, shared by the Red-Handed hosts, is about Graham Young, a serial poisoner who was fascinated with chemistry and poisons from a young age. He began poisoning his family members, starting with his stepmother, Molly, and was eventually sent to Broadmore, a psychiatric hospital. Upon his release, he quickly resumed his poisoning activities, targeting his co-workers at a lab that manufactured military equipment. He was eventually arrested and convicted of murder, spending the rest of his life in psychiatric hospitals. The episode explores the motivations behind these crimes, the impact they had on the victims and their families, and the broader societal implications of these cases. It also highlights the importance of recognizing warning signs of potential violence and the need for better security measures within the UK prison system.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introducing Wine and Crime and the Bad Brits Story Swap

The episode begins with an advertisement for Wondru Plus, followed by an announcement of the Red-Handed Antipodient Tour. The hosts introduce their guests, Lucy and Amanda from the podcast Wine and Crime, and explain the episode's format: a story swap about "Bad Brits" with each podcast sharing a case.

00:01:26

Lucy's Story: The Case of William Hughes

Lucy from Wine and Crime shares the story of William Hughes, a man who committed a violent attack at a leisure center, escaped from prison, and then attacked a prison warden with a knife. The case is known as "The Year of the Knife" in the Peak District. Lucy provides background information about the Peak District, the attack at the leisure center, and William Hughes's violent history, including his troubled childhood, his early involvement in crime, and his numerous incarcerations. She also discusses his escape from prison and the reasons behind the lack of proper security measures, including overcrowding and underfunding.

01:14:55

Hannah's Story: The Case of Graham Young

Hannah shares the story of Graham Young, a serial poisoner who was fascinated with chemistry and poisons from a young age. He began poisoning his family members, starting with his stepmother, Molly, and was eventually sent to Broadmore, a psychiatric hospital. Upon his release, he quickly resumed his poisoning activities, targeting his co-workers at a lab that manufactured military equipment. He was eventually arrested and convicted of murder, spending the rest of his life in psychiatric hospitals.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the format of this episode of Red-Handed?

  This episode features a story swap between the Red-Handed hosts and their guests from Wine and Crime, with each podcast sharing a case about "Bad Brits."

• What is the story that Lucy from Wine and Crime shares?

  Lucy tells the story of William Hughes, a man who committed a violent attack at a leisure center, escaped from prison, and then attacked a prison warden with a knife.

• What is the significance of the Peak District in the story of William Hughes?

  The Peak District is the location of the leisure center where the initial attack occurred, and it is also where Hughes's escape and subsequent attack on the prison warden took place.

• What are some of the challenges faced by the UK prison system, as highlighted in the episode?

  The episode discusses the issues of overcrowding, underfunding, and lack of proper security measures within the UK prison system, as illustrated by the escape of William Hughes and a recent scandal involving a female guard.

• What were Graham Young's motivations for poisoning his family and co-workers?

  Graham Young was fascinated with chemistry and poisons from a young age. He seemed to derive pleasure from the power and control he had over his victims, enjoying the confusion and fear he caused. He also seemed to view his victims as mere guinea pigs for his experiments.

• How did Graham Young's poisoning methods evolve over time?

  Graham Young initially poisoned his family members with small doses of antimony, building up their tolerance. Later, he used thallium, a more potent poison, to kill his co-workers. He also used different poisons to confuse doctors and make it harder to identify the cause of death.

• What were the consequences of Graham Young's actions?

  Graham Young's actions resulted in the deaths of multiple people, including his stepmother and several co-workers. He was convicted of murder and spent the rest of his life in psychiatric hospitals. His case highlights the dangers of unchecked obsession and the importance of recognizing warning signs of potential violence.

Show Notes