Jailed kidnapper of estate agent ‘confident of prison release’

The kidnapper of West Midlands estate agent Stephanie Slater (main picture) is confident he will be freed as he attempts his fourth parole hearing.

Michael Sams, who is now 82, got four life terms in 1993 and was last denied parole last year.

KIDNAPPING

He was given multiple life sentences in 1993 after he was convicted of kidnapping Slater in January 1992 for eight days, and also for the murder of Leeds woman Julie Dart, 18, the year before.

According to The Sun on Sunday newspaper, Sams believes he’s getting closer to being released on licence.

A Parole Board spokesperson said: “We can confirm the parole review of Michael Sams has been referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice and is following standard processes.

“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.”

Slater, who worked for Birmingham estate agent Shipways at the time, hit the headlines in 1992 after being kidnapped in Great Barr.

WOODEN COFFIN

She was held for eight days in a wooden coffin after she was taken captive by Sams, posing as a potential house buyer, and was freed after a ransom was paid by her employer. She moved to the Isle of Wight the following year.

Slater later alleged that Sams had raped her during her captivity and went on to write a book about her torment but died in 2017 after a brief battle with cancer, aged 50.

Understandably Slater could never return to estate agency but worked tirelessly with police forces across the country to help them understand how to treat kidnap victims, also working with victims themselves to overcome their harrowing experiences.

Picture: West Midlands Police