Colin Sutton

Colin David McLean Sutton is a British former Metropolitan Police detective who came to public prominence by leading the investigations on several high-profile cases such as serial killer Levi Bellfield and rapist Delroy Grant who were both subsequently convicted of their crimes and are currently serving life sentences. He worked on several high profile and difficult cases during the course of his 30-year career. These included, most famously, the case of Levi Bellfield who was initially convicted of the murders of Marsha McDonnell and Amélie Delagrange, and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy. Whilst serving life for these crimes, Bellfield was also tried and convicted of the murder of Milly Dowler. He received a Commendation for ‘exceptional leadership, detective ability, perseverance and dedication to duty’ following the successful investigation and conviction in this case. Following his retirement from the police force in 2011, he began to write about his experiences. His first book, Manhunt, was released in 2019 to much critical-acclaim and it went on to be the inspiration behind the TV series of the same name for which he served as a writer and was played by Martin Clunes. The first series focused on the Levi Bellfield case and the second, which was nominated for a Best Drama Series BAFTA TV Award, focused on the search for Delroy Grant. In 2020, he teamed up with Revelation Films on The Real Manhunter, an 8-part true crime documentary series which aired on Sky Crime. The premise of the show was to offer insight into investigations that he and his team worked on and to tell the stories with authenticity and sensitivity. This determination to put the victims and the work at the centre of each episode led to the show being re-commissioned. The 4th series finished airing on Sky Crime in early 2025. His third book, The Colin Sutton Casebook, an accompaniment to the hit series, was released in March 2025 and will be followed by a new nationwide tour The Real Manhunter Live in 2026. From his bio on The Real Manhunter website.

Works

The Real Manhunter

Former Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton spent 30 years in the police force, a career that saw him lead many of the most high profile and successful murder investigations of his generation. In this true crime docuseries, Sutton revisits cases he led and explores everything from the crime itself through to the breakthrough moment when the suspect was identified and arrested.

Release Date2021-03-29

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Charactersd Self - Former British Detective Inspector

Episode Count32

Vote Count2

Murder by Medic

They know how to kill and how to cure. Inside a hospital, at home, or maybe even next door. They are trained to save lives but also know how to take them. Delve into the stories of killers who broke the Hippocratic Oath to use their medical knowledge for murder, taking the lives of often vulnerable victims instead of caring for them.

Release Date2024-08-19

Charactersd Self - Retired Police Investigator (UK)

Episode Count1

Becky Watts Killed for Kicks

The story behind the murder of 16-year-old Becky Watts, who was killed by her stepbrother Nathan Matthews and his 21-year-old partner Shauna Hoare in Bristol in February 2015. This programme documents the huge police manhunt that unfolded in the wake of her disappearance, and the police investigation which eventually brought her murderous stepbrother to justice.

Release Date2017-10-18

Charactersd Self

21st Century Serial Killers

21st Century Serial Killers forensically researches the lives of the killers who can't stop killing, revealing how the grim opportunities, provided by the 21st century, played a part in a number of murders.

Release Date2018-11-13

Charactersd Self - Expert

Episode Count7

Vote Count3

The Real Manhunt: The Night Stalker

Interviewing senior officers from Operation Minstead to tell the real story of the 17-year hunt for the serial rapist known as 'The Night Stalker'.

Release Date2021-09-30

Charactersd Self

Vote Count1

Fred and Rose West: Reopened

Former newscaster Sir Trevor McDonald, former chef Metropolitan detective superintendent Colin Sutton and psychologist Dr Donna Youngs explore potential new victims of Fred and Rosemary West, investigating suspicious sites where bodies may be buried based on new leads.

Release Date2021-09-15

Charactersd Self

Manhunt

The true story of London Metropolitan police detective Colin Sutton's manhunt for serial criminals.

Release Date2019-01-06

DepartmentWriting

JobBook

Episode Count7

Vote Count92

West End Murders

West End Murders is the story of three murdered women: their lives, their deaths and two failed police investigations. Following former Met Police DCI Colin Sutton and his team, this investigation examines the historic cold case of the ‘Bunny Girl’ murders, uncovering a key link between the murders of Eve Stratford, Lynda Farrow and the seemingly unconnected case of murdered schoolgirl Lynne Weedon, revealing the pattern of a potential serial killer gone unnoticed for decades in the process. With this new revelation, can Sutton and his team finally bring justice and close the book on a 40-year-old case once and for all?

Release Date2024-09-23

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Episode Count4

Vote Count1

World in Action

World in Action was Granada Television’s flagship ITV current affairs series, running from 7 Jan 1963 to 7 Dec 1998, and built a reputation for film-led investigative reporting and a forceful editorial stance. Its journalism produced major public and political repercussions—including investigations associated with miscarriages of justice such as the Birmingham Six—and it also served as a platform for landmark documentary projects, including the first broadcast of “Seven Up!” as part of the strand in 1964.

Release Date1963-01-01

Episode Count1

Vote Count1