3D: Predator

(Yorkshire TV / ITV Network, 1994)

The Beast of Exmoor is not alone. Each year more and more sightings of exotic big cats are reported. Big cats have been reported from nearly every county of Britain.

Experts confirm the presence of jungle cats, swamp cats, ocelot, pumas, lynx and black panthers. Some are even shot or run over. There is no mystery: the cats are escapees from unlicensed owners or known to have escaped from zoos. All are too small or timid to harm people, save one, the black panther. So far, no deaths have occurred, despite reliable reports of black panthers in at least four regions.

Co-ordinating the sightings across southern Britain is police detective Steve Ashcroft of the Metropolitan Police. Working in his spare time, he compiles bulging files full of eyewitness reports and photographs. His main concerns are the black panthers: one day these powerful predators will kill. In this film, Steve investigates the first report of a woman being wounded by a black panther roaming wild in rural Worcestershire.

Predator was made for 3D, ITV's current affairs strand, and was the source of this front page in 'The Sun'.

Four Wind's Martin Belderson produced and directed this film whilst at Yorkshire TV.

Researcher/AP: Dean Jones
Editor: Brian Tomkins
Series Producer: Peter Gordon