Bombshell ‘confession' in murder of Brit found dead in well 12 years after vanishing on Crete holiday could crack case
The remains of Brit Steven Cook, 20, were found in a well in 2017 in Crete - 12 years after he vanished in 2005.
7
7
On September 1, 2005, Steven, from Cheshire, was out with pals on the first night of his holiday in Malia, Crete - but disappeared without a trace.
In February 2017, workers near a Malia cemetery found a human skeleton in an abandoned well.
Steven's family has been desperate for answers ever since - but a recent update might shed some light on Steven's death.
Nearly 20 years after Steven went missing, Cheshire police confirm there are developments in the investigation.
The holiday was Steven's first trip abroad and, despite being with his friends, he left a pub alone at the end of a night out.
The Brit was last seen in a bar asking for directions to his hotel, the Hotel Frixos, but walked off in the wrong direction at the end of a night out in the clubbing hotspot.
Grieving parents Norman and Pat, both 73, from Sandbach, even put up a 7,000 euro reward for information about their missing son.
It seemed that Steven had vanished off the face of the earth until 12 years later workers found a skeleton at the bottom of a well in Malia.
Personal items were found with the bones, including a piece of cloth, a belt and a disposable camera.
The remains were later confirmed to belong to Brit Steven Cook.
Now, seven years after the discovery, cops and prosecutors in Greece are probing an alleged confession alongside UK police.
According to Steven's family lawyer, Yiannis Konstantoudakis, an email was sent to Cheshire Police last year from the ex-wife of a 38-year-old British man.
She has claimed her ex confessed to killing Steven and revealed the horrifying details to her while under the influence of drugs.
She described how he got into a fight with a drunk young man in Malia in 2005.
After receiving a hit on the head, the victim died - and his body was thrown down a well.
The unknown woman claimed to have kept handwritten diary notes from that time, and even produced a silver bracelet with two beads on the end.
She claimed the piece of jewellery belonged to the victim.
Steven's grieving family didn't identify the jewellery.
After the missing Brit's body was discovered in 2017, it broke the 38-year-old man, his ex-wife claimed.
She claims he had a mental breakdown and threatened to take his own life.
He also required psychiatric evaluation, the ex-wife claimed.
7
7
7
The prosecutor in Heraklion, Crete, shared reservations about the large gap in time between the time Steven went missing and the 38-year-old Brit's ex-wife's claims - but considered them credible.
She added that it was not unusual for people under the influence of drugs or alcohol to make revelations about their lives they wouldn't have otherwise said.
The 38-year-old Brit has denied any involvement in Steven's death, according to local newspaper Parapolitika.
When appearing before British authorities, he reportedly claimed he wasn't in Crete in 2005.
He described his ex-wife's allegations as "lies".
In 2005 there were no systematic passport checks for citizens of the European Union while Great Britain belonged to it.
There is a recorded entry of the accused Brit into Greece in 2010 from the airport in Zakynthos.
Steven's family were informed of the developments through their lawyer.
Mr Konstantoudakis told The Sun of fears that the case could be thrown out in September if there are no major developments.
Cheshire Police told The Sun it "is aware of the developments in the investigation into the death of Steven Cook".
They added: "At this time, we are working closely with the Greek Authorities and Stevens family who are being supported by specialist officers."
7
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
5 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Crime has got so bad in Britain that foreign governments are warning their citizens about visiting
Before Samuel* travelled from Australia to the UK last October, his friends and family warned him about London's reputation for crime. 'I had planned to travel all around Europe,' says the 27-year-old architecture student from Sydney, 'but my parents said, 'once you get to London, you need to be really careful''. Conversations about the soaring robbery and theft rates in London are commonplace for Australian travellers visiting the UK, says Samuel. 'Everyone knows of somebody [in Australia] that's had their phone stolen in London,' he says. 'It's definitely common to hear the warnings in Australia, everyone knows that.' Despite the warnings, Samuel became one of around 80,000 people whose phones were stolen in London last year. Walking up a flight of stairs at Euston station with his mobile in his back pocket, he noticed he had been pick-pocketed when he reached the top. The experience had such an impact on him that he still finds himself checking his pockets in Australia, even though phone theft is 'non-existent' out there. Warnings about London's crime are not just hearsay out in Australia; they are now being issued by the Australian government. The government website Smart Traveller has raised the UK travel advice from a Level 1 to a Level 2 warning, urging Australians to 'exercise a high degree of caution' when visiting Britain, adding that 'petty crime is common, including pickpocketing' and alerting readers to thieves who use 'scooters and bicycles to snatch belongings'. Two extra bullet points recommend travellers 'keep money and valuables such as mobile phones out of sight' and 'avoid putting valuables in [their] pockets'. In Australia, there are only four risk levels when it comes to travel warnings: Level 1 indicates that a country is 'similar' to Australia safety-wise, while Level Four is 'do not travel' because 'your health and safety are at extreme risk'. Level 2, issued to the UK, 'may reflect a weak law-and-order system, where violent crime is common,' explains the website, adding that the country 'may lack some key public services, such as a responsive police force.' Two fifths of mobile phone thefts in Europe now happen in the UK, according to the insurance company SquareTrade Europe. Its data reveals that phone theft claims in the UK have increased by 425 per cent since June 2021. One mobile phone is stolen every six minutes across the capital, according to the Metropolitan Police. Meanwhile, violent crime has gone up by 30 per cent during Sir Sadiq Khan's nine-year tenure as Mayor of London. In March, the Conservatives accused him of overseeing a 'woefully inadequate' response to the problem of phone theft after dedicating only two sentences to the increase in his policing strategy for the capital. In early July this year, the Home Office wrote on X that there had been a 44 per cent rise in street crime across the UK, record levels of shop theft and a million incidents of anti-social behaviour. There's been a 44% rise in street crime, record levels of shop theft and a million incidents of anti-social behaviour. We refuse to accept this for our towns. This summer, police forces are increasing targeted patrols to protect businesses from harm and increase public safety. — Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) July 4, 2025 Australia is not the only country warning its citizens to take precautions when visiting the UK. Research by The Telegraph has uncovered a slew of foreign countries that have either put out fresh warnings about the rising levels of crime in the UK in recent years, or updated the 'crime' sections of their websites with additional warnings. The countries include France, Canada, New Zealand, the UAE and, most surprisingly, Mexico. In a 'travel advice' section on the Mexican embassy website, it warns that 'in London, crime has increased, especially in crowded areas, on the streets, and on public transportation.' It lists 16 bullet points with practical advice on how to avoid petty crime on the street, in the hotel, and when travelling in a vehicle. 'Avoid displaying jewellery, cameras, cell phones, or other valuables,' the website advises. The UAE embassy website also warns travellers of a 'recent increase in violence and knife crime' in London, 'including a number of attacks on citizens of Arab Gulf states'. It says: 'We advise our citizens to take special care, especially at night, and avoid wearing valuable items that attract attention in public places'. Twelve bullet points follow, with advice 'to make your visit to London safer'. They include making sure to check that the hotel door has a functional lock and a dead bolt. Like Australia, the Canadian government has increased its warnings about crime in London. In 2017, the Canadian website increased the risk level of the UK from the first level ('exercise normal safety precautions') to the second level ('you should exercise a high degree of caution '). Canada only has four risk levels, the fourth being 'avoid all travel'. Though the update seems to have been made following the Westminster terror attack in 2017, the volume of advice about 'crime' in London has grown startlingly on the website over a decade. Web archives show that in 2012, the Canadian government published one line warning of 'petty crime' including 'pickpocketing, purse snatching and mugging'. By 2017, the section on crime had grown to three paragraphs, and included a new warning of 'violent crime such as mugging and sexual assault'. In 2019, the government was listing areas in which to be most vigilant, including 'pubs and bars', and had published a line that 'cellphone theft is rampant in tourist areas'. Now, in 2025, there are three lengthy sections on 'petty crime', 'violent crime' and 'spiked food and drinks' with detailed bullet points advising Canadians to 'avoid showing signs of affluence'. And it's not just foreign governments issuing warnings: back in the UK, London hotels are now also warning travellers of the high rates of petty crime. 'We always mention to be wary of phone snatching; there's a lot of phone snatching in Piccadilly Circus', says a concierge, who did not want to be named, at a luxury five-star hotel in central London. 'Also, when they are wearing jewellery, we mention that they should be careful.' Unsuspecting guests falling victim to phone snatching has 'happened a few times,' they say, 'but there's not much we can do. It happened once with an external member of the public, it was over a year ago: it can be guests, or people from outside. It's most likely phones.' It's lunchtime in central Victoria. 'Hop-on hop-off' buses are embarking on their tours of London, filled with huge groups of tourists. One bus steward is shepherding a queue of eager foreign visitors into a brightly coloured, open-top coach. He says that in the last year, he has been witness to six or seven 'live' phone snatches alone. 'Most of the time they come on electric bicycles, they snatch from the footpaths and they go away: they're really fast,' he says. Now he worries that it could detrimentally affect the tourist industry he is part of. 'It could impact tourists because tourists are afraid of where the crime is… it could impact the business', he admits. 'People are still afraid. Previously I heard that London was the safest place, but crimes are going up now'. Is he concerned for the future of his job? 'Yes, there is a concern,' he admits, before suggesting that 'we should tighten immigration laws' and that 'people should be punished when they commit the crime.' Online, social media is awash with warnings for those visiting the UK. 'So I moved to London this week, and I am so anxious walking on the streets,' says Australian social media user Alicia English while filming herself in a TikTok post. 'Apparently everyone's phones get stolen off them, people drive past on bikes and just snatch them out of your hands… that is making me anxious because I really can't afford a new phone right now.' Her video has nearly 200 comments. 'I saw someone have a phone snatched out [of] their hands on Oxford Street last week,' says one respondent. In May 2024, Calina Chehade, a 24-year-old video editor, saw a string of warnings about crime in London on TikTok before her trip to the city. Chehade, who lives in Lebanon, was travelling to the UK for an Olivia Rodrigo concert. 'Phone snatching is especially talked about and famous in London,' she tells The Telegraph. 'My mum sent me a TikTok of someone with a black eye because someone stole their phone. It definitely got on my nerves.' Before she travelled to London, family members who had visited before gave her tips to prevent her phone being stolen. 'I remember my cousin telling me 'wear a big coat and put your wallet inside your coat, and close it well and hold on to your belongings,' she says, before reciting, as if by heart: 'Always walk with confidence. Don't let them know you're a tourist.' Though Chehade did not have her phone snatched, she views herself as one of the lucky ones. 'It was fine, luckily,' she reflects of her visit. 'But there is luck involved, it's not just me being prepared. Thank God, nothing happened.' Then she confides, almost in amazement, and perhaps with a slight tinge of disappointment: 'I didn't even witness a phone snatch while there.'
BBC News
35 minutes ago
- BBC News
Fencing boss speaks on theft of Kaleb Cooper kit
The owner of a fencing firm has described how thieves stole farm equipment belonging to Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper from a field.A post knocker, owned by Mr Cooper, was stolen along with a tractor, which he does not own, from a field near Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, between 15:30 and 16:30 BST last hired items were being used by Aylesbury firm Home and Country Fencing, whose owner, who asked to be identified only as Lewis, said he believed the thieves had been keeping watch,Mr Cooper declined to comment, but posted to Instagram, on which he has 2.9 million followers, writing: "Can we please make this as hot as possible! What is going on with England at the moment." The equipment was being used in a field off Hawkswood told the BBC: "They broke into the field and cut a chain off. "They had probably been watching us as it was parked out of sight behind a barn."We had another post knocker stolen 11 months ago in Chalgrove as well."A social media post from the company, shared by Mr Cooper, suggested a "burnt out" silver 4x4 vehicle found nearby was "possibly related".The post knocker is a Protech P200S with the serial number 10698. It belongs to Mr Cooper, who lives near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, and has risen to fame in Jeremy Clarkson's farming show on Amazon Prime in recent green John Deere tractor 6630 had the number plate OU11 Valley Police said both were seen being driven past the BP filling station in Gerrards Cross, on the A40 Oxford Road, at 15:52 on the same force is appealing for anyone with further information to contact Mutual, the insurance arm of the National Farmers' Union, estimates that rural crime in the UK cost £44.1m last year – although that was down 16.5% on the previous year. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Teacher pleads guilty to years-long sex abuse of 13-year-old schoolgirl
An Ohio teacher has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing one of her former students, beginning when the girl was just 13 years old. Stefanie Erin Kellenberger, 40, admitted guilt on Friday to four counts of third-degree felony sexual battery and 17 counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, the Mansfield News Journal reports. The former Shelby Middle School English teacher now faces up to 15 years imprisonment at her sentencing on October 6 - just one day before her 41st birthday. Prosecutors say she began grooming the victim when she was 13 years old, and the sexual contact started the following year, after the girl turned 14. It then continued 'until the age of consent,' which is 16 in the state, Bryan Dove, assistant prosecutor for Richland County claimed. The crimes all occurred at Kellenberger's home in Shelby from February 2020 through October 2021. 'You had been a teacher. She had been a student,' Richland County Common Pleas Judge Brent Robinson told the former sixth-grade teacher. 'But at the time these occurred, you were not her teacher and she was not your student.' In court, Kellenberger's attorney also argued that 'consent was never an issue in this case' and Dove noted that there was 'no use of force' involved. Stefanie Erin Kellenberger, 40, a former English teacher at Shelby Middle School in Ohio, has pleaded guilty to four counts of third-degree felony sexual battery and 17 counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor Kellenberger was placed on paid administrative leave from Shelby City Schools in February 2024, after Superintendent Michael Browning said he received a call from the Mansfield Police Department that 'allegations were made' against the teacher. She was then officially indicted on the criminal charges in September 2024, and resigned from Shelby City Schools the following month. As the case against her progressed, the victim in the case recommended Kellenberger spend three years behind bars. But Judge Robinson said he did not support such a short sentence, and prosecutors came up with two different options - either she serve a 12-year flat prison sentence or 15 years with the possibility of judicial release after 10 years. Kellenberger opted for the latter option, and Dove said the victim is now 'relieved to not have to testify. 'That's why we entered into this agreement with the defendant,' he explained. Kellenberger will now be subject to fie years post-release control and must register with the county sheriff as a Tier 3 sex offender every 90 days for the rest of her life. She also agreed to avoid all future contact with her victim and to forever forfeit her teaching license in exchange for the possibility of being released after 10 years of good behavior. In the meantime, Kellenberger is to remain under electronic monitoring until her sentence. She may not have any contact with minors at the time and is to avoid any further criminal conduct.
