A father found strangled and dismembered alongside his daughter in his Deptford home was a convicted sex offender.

Detectives investigating the deaths of 69-year-old Noel Brown and 41-year-old Marie Brown also believe she disturbed the attackers as they attempted to dismember his body, Met Police said.

Mr Brown and his only daughter were found strangled at his flat in New Butt Lane at around 2.45am on Monday (December 4) after police responded to a welfare concern.

Police are trying to establish why they were killed but Detective Superintendent Paul Monk said Mr Brown's conviction in 1999 for a sex offence, for which he served four years in prison, was not "screaming out" as a motive.

He said "nothing" had happened in Mr Brown's life in the 18 years since the conviction to suggest that was the reason for the murder.

Mr Monk said: "The offence was a sex offence, he was convicted and served time and was released in 2004 but I'm not prepared to give any more details."

A neighbour saw Mr Brown at his home at around 8pm on November 30, and days later at around midday on December 2 his daughter went to his flat out of concern for his welfare. She was not seen alive again.

Mr Monk said Mr Brown, a regular gambler who placed "very small bets" every day at the Paddy Power shop in Deptford High Street, did not visit the bookmakers on Friday and it is possible he was killed before his daughter arrived.

He said: "I don't know whether he was dismembered at that point or whether he was dismembered after Marie was killed.

"There's some attempt to cover up the crime, it's a strong possibility that Marie had disturbed them.

"Attempts have been made to dismember his body - it's possible Marie has made attempts to disturb that and it's possible she's been killed.

"There's no attempt to dismember Marie at all."

Mr Monk said they have found no evidence that Mr Brown was killed because of a large gambling win, although he had visited his local betting shop Paddy Power on the day he was last seen alive. He said Mr Brown's biggest win was thought to be up to £15 or £20.

Officers found no signs of a break-in at the flat, indications of a struggle inside or that Mr Brown or Ms Brown had been restrained, and Mr Monk said he believed there was no evidence to suggest the motive was burglary or robbery, adding there may be more than one suspect.

Mr Monk said: “One of the possibilities I'm investigating is that these people were known to Noel so I'm particularly keen to hear from anybody that knew Noel, knew his lifestyle and knew people he may associate with.

"I am keen to hear from anyone who saw Noel in the days leading up to his death or saw anyone or anything unusual in or around New Butt Lane, SE8 during that time.

"This is a deeply distressing time for Noel and Marie's family as they come to terms with their loss."