THE key role a former Cheshire Police officer played in catching a serial killer case has been recognised in a new ITV crime drama.
The Pembrokeshire Murders (The Bullseye Killer) will be a three-part show based on the true events around two double murders in West Wales in the mid to late 1980s. The murders were left unsolved for around 20 years, until Det Supt Steve Wilkins helped re-open the case in 2005.
It was finally cracked thanks to advances in forensics — and a vital clue that emerged around murderer John Cooper's appearance on a 1989 episode of the game show, Bullseye.
Steve, who will be played by Hollywood actor Luke Evans in the show, joined Cheshire Constabulary in 1980 as a PC.
Steve, centre, with his colleagues at the time
He worked in uniform, and later CID at Winsford, before a spell on the serious crime squad (SCS) as a detective constable.
Steve transferred to Dyfed Powys Police on promotion to sergeant in 1992, where he quickly climbed the ranks before retiring as detective chief superintendent in 2012.
On being played by Luke Evans, Steve joked: “I thought it would be Johnny Vegas to be honest so I was a bit surprised! I met Luke and we went for a couple of beers and went through the investigation and everything that happened. It is a surreal experience watching someone say the exact words that you said, but he’s done a great job, as have all the actors and the rest of the team on the show.”
The three-part drama, based on Steve's book, starts on ITV1 on Monday at 9pm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here