An ex-police officer had raised concerns about a series of sexual assaults before the brutal murder known as the ‘Beast of Birkenhead’. Peter Sullivan was wrongly convicted in the killing of Diane Sindall and spent 38 years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit.
Diane Sindall, who worked at the Wellington pub, had her van break down on Borough Road in Birkenhead after her shift on August 1, 1986. She was later discovered in an alley, partially undressed and fatally beaten.
Despite Sullivan’s conviction in 1987 for Sindall’s murder, recent advancements in forensic science revealed that the DNA found on Sindall’s body did not match his. Consequently, Sullivan was released in May last year.
A former Merseyside Police officer has come forward, claiming that he was discouraged from investigating the case despite noticing a series of similar attacks in the area prior to Sindall’s murder. He expressed concerns about a potential escalation in the violence of the crimes.
Tragically, Sindall’s murder occurred shortly after the officer raised the alarm about the escalating attacks. Merseyside Police has stated that there is currently no evidence linking Sindall’s murder to other offenses in the area.
The officer, who remains anonymous, discussed his concerns regarding the lack of dedicated investigations into the assaults and rapes that had occurred locally. He highlighted a disturbing case involving a young woman who was violently assaulted and raped off Borough Road.
Following Sindall’s murder, a cold case review team has been actively investigating the case, with hopes of utilizing new DNA profiling techniques to identify the real perpetrator. Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for Sindall’s death.
Law enforcement officers are actively pursuing leads, including taking DNA samples from individuals across various locations and eliminating potential suspects. A plaque in memory of Sindall has been erected at the site of her murder on Borough Road.
The BBC podcast ‘Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead’ delves deeper into the case for those seeking more information.