She travelled to London with dreams of adventure, language, and independence, but instead, 21-year-old Sophie Lionnet found herself trapped in a house of delusion and cruelty.

In this episode, we uncover the disturbing murder of a young French au pair at the hands of a South London couple who convinced themselves she was a spy sent by a former boyband star. With twisted obsession, manipulation, and a shared fantasy that spiralled into torture and murder, this is one of the most haunting domestic crimes in modern British history.

Also listen to how Rach became "that person" while dealing with a teenager with no headphones on a commuter train...

Sources include:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/05/25/a-london-couples-shared-psychosis-led-to-the-torture-and-death-of-french-au-pair/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5709425/Heartbroken-father-French-nanny-Sophie-Lionnet-says-hes-haunted-murder.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-48381455

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/26/london-couple-who-murdered-nanny-get-life-sentences

https://news.sky.com/story/murdered-french-nanny-had-a-chance-to-escape-11308390

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5709425/Heartbroken-father-French-nanny-Sophie-Lionnet-says-hes-haunted-murder.html

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/us/french-couple-get-life-in-jail-for-murdering-nanny-in-london-idUSKBN1JM1XL/#:~:text=Sabrina%20Kouider%2C%2035%2C%20and%20Ouissem,from%20Troyes%20in%20eastern%20France

https://www.independent.ie/news/boyzone-founder-says-murder-accused-was-manipulative-and-controlling/36744926.html#:~:text=turbulent%2C%20probably%20the%20most%20turbulent,I%20had%20ever%20been%20in

www.channel5.com/tortured-to-death-murdering-the-nanny

https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/infamous-sophie-lionnet/

https://casefilepodcast.com/case-236-sophie-lionnet/

Thanks for tuning in! If you loved diving into the dark corners of South London with us, don't forget to hit that subscribe button to never miss an episode of "Sinister South."

Also, follow us on Instagram @SinisterSouthPodcast for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes content, and more cheeky banter, or www.sinistersouthpod.co.uk. Remember, every crime tells a story... and South is the best side of the river...

Produced and hosted by Hannah Williams & Rachel Baines
Mixed & edited by Purple Waves Sound (A.K.A Will)