Search goes on for Diane Sindall’s real murderer 40 years on

Detectives are renewing an appeal to find Diane Sindall’s killer and finally “get justice for the family” ahead of the 40th anniversary of her murder.

It comes after Peter Sullivan, who was wrongfully convicted of her murder, served 38 years in prison before his conviction was quashed due to new DNA evidence – leading to his release from prison last year.

Sindall, a florist working part-time at a pub to save up for her wedding, was beaten to death in a frenzied sexual attack in Birkenhead, Merseyside, on 2 August 1986.

Det Supt Rachel Wilson said finding her murderer was “my priority”, and Merseyside Police was following up on more than 200 calls since the case reopened.

For years, Sullivan was dubbed the Beast of Birkenhead by tabloid newspapers.

Crime Stoppers is offering a £20,000 reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of Sindall’s real killer.

Wilson told BBC Radio Merseyside Sindall had left the Wellington pub at the end of a shift and at about 23:45 BST on 1 August and got into a blue fiat van she used in her job as a florist to drive home.

She said: “It looks like it runs out of petrol just on the corner of Borough Road.”

She said she was seen by a couple of workmen just after midnight getting out of the van with what was potentially a petrol canister, and started to walk along Borough Road.

Her brutalised and partially naked body was found in an alley off the main road the next morning.