Taken in Broad Daylight: The Sarah Payne Case | Ep. 243

British Murders with Stuart Blues

Stuart Blues

Uk, True Crime, Society & Culture, Documentary, Death, British, Murder, History, Crime

4.6 • 876 Ratings

🗓️ 15 April 2026

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

An eight-year-old girl disappeared while playing near her grandparents’ home on a summer’s day in West Sussex, and within hours, a nationwide search was underway. In July 2000, Sarah Payne vanished in what should have been a safe, familiar setting, sending shockwaves across the UK. As police raced against time, one of the largest missing person investigations in British history began to unfold.

In this episode, we break down the timeline of Sarah’s disappearance, the massive search effort that followed, and the investigation that gripped the nation. How could a child vanish so quickly in broad daylight? And how did this case go on to change UK law and public awareness around child safety? This is a deeply emotional case that left a lasting impact on the country, and it's one that is still remembered decades later.

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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. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Your true crime story will start in just a moment, but before it does, have you got your ticket for the Always True Crime Live Show?
0:08.6	Stuart from British Murders, Mike from Murder Mile, and Paul, the true crime enthusiast, are teaming up for the ultimate true crime takeover at Crossed Wires Festival.
0:19.1	They'll be diving into the details of some gripping cases in a live show that you
0:22.8	won't want to miss.
0:24.4	Search Crossed Wires Festival now and see all three shows with just one ticket.
0:31.7	In July 2000, an 8-year-old girl was playing outside near a grandparents' home in a quiet West Sussex
0:39.0	village, enjoying the summer holidays like any other child her age would. It was the kind of place
0:44.7	where nothing untoward ever happened. Kids played out, families relaxed, and people felt safe.
0:51.5	But within the space of a single afternoon, that sense of safety was shattered.
0:57.1	Sarah Payne disappeared while playing in a field with her siblings, just a short distance from
1:02.4	where her family were staying. One moment she was there, the next she was gone. What followed was
1:08.7	one of the largest missing person searches the UK had ever seen,
1:13.1	joining hundreds of officers, volunteers and the intention of the entire nation. In this episode,
1:20.1	British murders with stroke blues, we're heading to Little Hampton to explore the heartbreaking
1:24.4	case of Sarah Payne. It's a story that not only gripped the country,
1:29.7	but led to major changes in UK law and the way information about sex offenders is shared.
1:36.2	This is a case that still resonates today, and one that began with the summer's day
1:41.2	that should have been completely ordinary.
1:48.7	Before we start, just a quick reminder to follow the podcast or subscribe on YouTube.
1:53.8	It's completely free and one of the best and easiest ways to help the show's growth and support it.
1:57.2	If you're able to leave a rating or review, those are always greatly appreciated.
2:01.5	And if you want ad-free listening, early access and exclusive episodes not available on the main feed, join my community, patreon.com, forward slash British murders.
	...

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