The father-of-three was shot in the head after responding to a local call-out. Colin Cheetham was the killer, a former technical director at a dye firm who was obsessed with guns.
Ahead of the programme, which airs on Friday night at 9pm, we take a look at the lives of the the victim and his killer.
The 43-year-old family man was described as popular and jovial and a well-respected taxi driver in his local community. Married to his wife Paula for 17 years, the couple had two sons and a daughter.
His mother Sheila said of her son: “Stuart loved his children and doted on them all. After having two lovely sons he really wanted a little girl and when Aimee was born he got his wish.
“That showed after his death. There was a tribute by taxi drivers and hundreds of people came to his funeral – people came out to show their respect for him. Young people, old people, everyone.
Colin Cheetham found guilty at Nottingham Crown Court of the murder of Stuart Ludlam (Photo: Derbyshire Constabulary/PA)
How did Colin Cheetham kill Stuart Ludlam?
On 17 September 2009, Mr Ludlam drove to the village railway station in Cromford, Derbyshire to collect a fare, unaware he was being lured into a trap.
Mr Ludlam’s body was found in the car with the engine still running by a holidaymaker, Peter Noble, who dialed 999.
The gun fanatic, who held a firearms licence and had been a member of a gun club, had been plotting the killing for weeks. A police investigation revealed he had compiled a photo scrapbook of four potential murder sites, all isolated railway stations.
But he had slipped up by topping up the device with his credit card. Detectives were then able to trace the call to him.
What happened to Colin Cheetham?
Cheetham claimed he had been at the station to loan a gun to a man named Geoff, who wanted to teach a drug dealer a lesson. But when his case went to trial, a jury at Nottingham Crown Court found him guilty.
“There was no motive except your own enjoyment. How chilling that you were prepared to put to death a person you had never met.”
“This crime was totally unpredictable. My own personal point of view is that he has executed Mr Ludlam simply to see what it would be like to kill someone due to his personal fascination with firearms.
This was not to be the case. In May 2020, Cheetham died behind bars at the age of 71. He had had a history of diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure.
Mr Blockley, by then the former head of crime at Derbyshire Police, said: “He never explained why he did what he did. We could never find any motive and he never said anything while in prison.
“For the family devastated by the death, they’re also left wondering why, and will be forever.”
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