An individual formerly in law enforcement had raised concerns about a series of sexual assaults before the vicious ‘Beast of Birkenhead’ murder. Peter Sullivan was erroneously convicted of the murder of Diane Sindall and endured 38 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Ms. Sindall had finished her shift at the Wellington pub just before midnight on August 1, 1986, when her blue van ran out of fuel. She was discovered the next day in an alley off Borough Road in Birkenhead, stripped partially and fatally beaten.
Sullivan, now 68, was found guilty of her murder in 1987. However, modern forensic analysis revealed that the DNA of the perpetrator found on Sindall’s body did not match Sullivan’s, leading to his release in May last year.
A former Merseyside Police officer disclosed that two senior detectives discouraged him from investigating despite his expressed concerns about the case, which is now under a cold case review.
The officer observed a series of assaults in the same vicinity with a comparable method of operation shortly before Diane’s murder in 1986. He remarked on the escalation in frequency and violence, indicating a move towards more severe crimes.
His apprehensions materialized when Diane Sindall was brutally murdered shortly after he had raised the alarm.
Merseyside Police stated that there is currently no evidence linking Ms. Sindall’s murder to other offenses. Her partially clothed body was discovered by a dogwalker in an alley off Borough Road on August 2, 1986.
The officer, who chose to remain anonymous, sought case files for similar offenses in the area with a similar method of operation. He shared his concerns on a BBC podcast ‘Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead,’ recounting incidents he had encountered while investigating a sexual assault in July 1986.
He recalled a distressing case involving a young woman who was brutally assaulted and raped near Borough Road.
Ms. Sindall was murdered possibly within a week after these incidents. The brutality of the murder led to Peter Sullivan being dubbed with tabloid nicknames like “The Beast of Birkenhead.”
Merseyside Police mentioned that the ongoing investigation has reviewed relevant offenses before and after Diane Sindall’s murder, keeping an open mind about potential connections.
Two senior officers involved in the case have since passed away, leaving no further information available regarding their involvement.
Earlier this year, the Mirror reported on a cold case team comprising over 20 police officers working to solve the 1986 case of the real ‘Beast of Birkenhead.’ Detectives aim to crack the case using advanced DNA profiling techniques and providing a detailed description of the killer for the first time.
Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for Ms. Sindall’s death.
A taxi driver witnessed Sindall arguing with a man on the main road, potentially the last sighting of her alive. The police suspect the man to be the killer, described as white, 5ft 10in, slim build, in his early twenties, with dark and tidy hair, wearing a dark brown leather jacket and jeans. Efforts are ongoing to identify the killer through DNA testing and elimination processes.
A memorial plaque dedicated to Ms. Sindall stands on Borough Road, honoring her memory and that of other women who have suffered similar fates.
‘Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead’ can be accessed on BBC Sounds.