Funeral of kidnapped estate agent who died from cancer

Today is the funeral of a former estate agent who was kidnapped in the 1990s.

Stephanie Slater died on August 31 this year after a short cancer battle. The 50-year-old's funeral will take place on the Isle of Wight today, where she settled following her release.

At the age of 25, Stephanie made headlines across the world after killer Michael Sams held her at knifepoint when he posed as a prospective buyer at an empty house in Great Barr, Birmingham.

Bound and gagged, she was driven more than 100 miles to Sams’ workshop in Newark, Nottinghamshire, while her employers were forced into handing over a ransom of £175,000.

The previous year, he had kidnapped and murdered Julie Dart and is still serving a life sentence in prison.

Stephanie Slater moved to the Isle of Wight to help her move on from her ordeal. Credit: ITV News Central

Ms Slater changed her name to Phoenix Rhiannon in a desperate attempt to shake off her past, but she later told ITV News she had become "proud" of Stephanie Slater and re-adopted her original name.

She worked with police forces across the country helping kidnap victims but nightmares about what happened haunted her throughout her life.

Ms Slater helped kidnap victims up and down the country. Credit: ITV News Central

However, our reporter Keith Wilkinson - who worked with her on a documentary about her capture - remembers some of the good times they shared.

  • There will be full coverage of Ms Slater's funeral on our programme at 6pm tonight.