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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Alahna Kindred

Man who kidnapped woman and kept her in a coffin admits killing teen in chilling tapes

The chilling murder confession of a man who killed a teenager will be heard for the first time 30 years after the grisly crime.

Disturbed Michael Sams has admitted killing teenager July Dart on July 9, 1991, in the unearthed tapes that will be aired on TV later this month.

Sams had previously denied carrying out the crime.

He was however convicted of murder, kidnapping and imprisoning - and was handed a life sentence for his crimes.

Six months after the murder in January 1992, Sams kidnapped estate agency, Stephanie Slater, at knifepoint before raping the 25-year-old.

He kept her in a makeshift wooden "coffin" inside a wheelie bin for more than a week after posing as a house buyer.

Stephanie Slater who was kidnapped in 1992 by Michael Sams (SWNS.com)
Julie Dart was murdered six months before Ms Slater was kidnapped (PA Archive/Press Association Images)

Sams freed Ms Slater after her boss paid a £175,000 ransom.

But she never recovered from her trauma and died of cancer aged 50.

On July 31, the secret recordings of Sams' confession to killing Ms Dart will be aired for the first time on Discovery+.

The crime show, titled Michael Sams: Kidnapper Killer, will show tape recordings between the lead detective of the case, Bob Taylor, and Sams days after he was sentenced.

Mr Taylor received word that the killer wanted to speak with him, so he concealed a tape recorder in his briefcase when he visited him at Full Sutton Prison.

This is the lair where Stephanie Slater was kept (Daily Record)

Sams confessed to strangling Ms Dart after abducting her as a "dummy run" for the kidnap of Ms Slater.

In one recording, Sams can be heard saying: "When I went out to kidnap Julie Dart, there was only one intention and that was to kill her.

"There was no intention whatsoever to keep her alive."

Mr Taylor said Sams' "cockiness" that he showed in the past "wasn't there" during the confession, adding he is still "shocked" at the admission, Daily Mail reports.

Stephanie Slater died of cancer aged 50 (PA)

After Sams was convicted and imprisoned, he attacked a female probation officer.

He also became known for his attempts to sue the prison, initially successfully, for losing his artificial leg and then because his bed was too hard.

Two years ago, Sams, now 80, was denied parole as the board decided the killer was still a danger to the public.

The Mirror told at the time how Stephanie's best friend, who lived with her on the Isle of Wight, had welcome the decision.

Stacey Kettner said: "She used to have terrible terrible nightmares, it was always there.

"She never recovered from what happened to her and remained ill throughout our friendship.

"She worked with police to tell her story because there aren't many victims like her that get to come home. "

The documentary will stream on Discovery+ on July 31.

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