Crimewatch actor sad to see end of programme

​An actor who was questioned by police after playing a suspect in an edition of Crimewatch said, despite that experience, it was disappointing the programme was being scrapped.

For 33 years the BBC’s Crimewatch has used life-like reconstructions to help police investigations into serious crimes.

Actors are used to play victims, suspects and potential witnesses.

Steve Watson, of Newark, appeared as a suspect in a reconstruction of the murder of mother-of-two Julie Pacey in Grantham on September 26, 1994.

Mr Watson was quizzed in 2015 by police after viewers named him as the killer when the reconstruction was broadcast for a second time in the hope of finding fresh evidence.

Crimewatch received more than 100 calls about the case following the renewed appeal.

Two of them mistakenly identified the entirely innocent Mr Watson as the suspect and he had to give a DNA sample.

The case remains unsolved.

Mr Watson said: “The demise of Crimewatch is a shame. When you think about how many crimes it has busted it is a public service.

“My own personal experience of Crimewatch was, however, a nightmare.

“There was such a strong likeness (to Julie Pacey’s suspected killer) that it took the producers two minutes after seeing my face to want to book me.

“It was such a horrific murder.

“To be in the house where it happened, with the lady’s daughter there, made me shudder.

“I put the outfit on, had my head shaved and my hair coloured brown.

“One of the witnesses saw me and she fell to the floor hysterically sobbing and saying ‘it’s him, it’s him.’

'I just wish the case had been solved'

“I had to pull wadding out of my mouth spluttering ‘it’s OK I’m an actor, I’m an actor.’

“I said to the director ‘you can’t show my face ­— I only live 15 miles away’ and he said not to worry as it wouldn’t happen.

“When it was shown 25 years ago you could see my face and I had people coming up to and saying I was a murderer.

“Then it was re-screened without me being told and it all started again. Because it is on television people believe it.

“I just wish the case had been solved.”

Crimewatch was responsible for the breakthrough that led to the arrest of Michael Sams, of Sutton-on-Trent.

Estate agent Stephanie Slater was kidnapped by Sams and hidden in a wheeled bin for eight days in Swan and Salmon Yard, Newark.

A ransom was paid for her release.

After hearing her describe her attacker, the police believed he could have been linked to the murder of Leeds 18-year-old Julie Dart the year before.

Crimewatch broadcast a recording of the kidnapper’s voice, which was recognised by Sams’ ex-wife who came forward.

As a result, Sams was arrested and convicted of both the kidnapping and murder. He was jailed for life. Stephanie Slater died last month aged 50.

The BBC said its daytime spin-off, Crimewatch Roadshow, would continue to be screened and the number of episodes would be increased.