A former Merseyside Police officer has revealed he warned senior detectives about a pattern of sexual assaults in Birkenhead shortly before the murder of Diane Sindall in 1986. The 23-year-old barmaid was killed after her van ran out of petrol, leading to the wrongful conviction of Peter Sullivan, who spent 38 years in prison before being exonerated by DNA evidence last year.
The ex-officer, who requested anonymity, said he raised concerns after investigating a sexual assault on Borough Road in July 1986. He noted a series of attacks with a similar modus operandi, describing an escalation in frequency and violence. 'The more I looked at it, the more concerned I became as the pattern suggested escalation... in my view it was moving towards something far more serious,' he told the BBC podcast 'Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead'.
Despite his warnings, the officer claimed he was instructed by two senior detectives to return the case files and not pursue the matter further. Both senior officers have since died, according to Merseyside Police. Ms Sindall's partially clothed body was found in an alley off Borough Road on August 2, 1986, having been beaten to death.
Merseyside Police stated that the current cold case review has examined relevant offences before and after the murder. A spokesperson said: 'Apart from the offence involving a “woman in yellow” who was attacked on Borough Road minutes before Ms Sindall, there is currently no evidence to link the Diane Sindall murder to the other offences.' The force added that the investigation team maintains an open mind.
Detectives are now using advanced DNA profiling techniques to identify the real killer. A full description has been issued: a white man, 5ft 10in, slim build, early twenties, with dark tidy hair, wearing a dark brown leather jacket and jeans. Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
