The conviction of Brian Field for the murder of Roy Tutill brings to a close one of the longest-running manhunts this country has seen.

Field, 65, showed no signs of emotion as an Old Bailey judge sentenced him to life behind bars on November 15 for the killing which has baffled police for 33 years.

It ends an unsolved case which has cost millions of pounds and has involved thousands of witnesses and police officers.

Field, a father-of-two, had originally denied the murder only changing his plea in the face of incontrovertible DNA evidence.

For decades he led a double life, apparently a ladies' man, but secretly kidnapping and abusing boys. His 14-year-old victim may now rest in peace, but for Field his jailing means new inquiries.

Hundreds of unsolved cases around the country are to be reopened by police who suspect that Field committed more crimes.

On the afternoon of his disappearance in April 1968, Roy had been hitchhiking home, a common occurrence in the late 1960s, when he was picked up by Field in his Mini.

Field drove him to a lay-by between Chessington and Leatherhead and it was here he molested and strangled the 14-year-old with a piece of rope, putting his lifeless body in the boot.

Field then drove home to his wife and new-born son but didn't dump Roy's body until the next day. Three days later his corpse was found in woodland near Leatherhead.

In the time between the murder and his arrest a year ago, Field has clocked up a string of convictions for other sex-related crimes.

In mitigation at the Old Bailey last month, Field's barrister said his client had suffered years of abuse during his childhood.

Adrian Fulford QC said: "He has experienced a lifetime of living with a terrible, corrosive and all-consuming secret.

"He expected at some stage he would be arrested and evidence produced, and he has lived with that for some 30 years."

December 6, 2001 11:30