Sutton: Speculative links between serial paedophile Brian Field and the disappearance of Sutton schoolboy Lee Boxell in 1988, have been dismissed as unfounded by the boy's mother.

National newspapers have dug up missing persons' files of teenage boys which still remain open, including Lee's, sparking conjecture over Field's possible involvement in their disappearances.

Field, the pervert from Solihull, pleaded guilty to sexually attacking and strangling Roy Tutill, a Kingston schoolboy, in April 1968. Last week he was jailed for life.

But Lee's mum, Christine Boxell, said she believes Field was actually in prison when her son went missing on September 10, 1988.

"He has nothing to do with this man as far as I know. Field was in prison from 1987 to 1990," she said.

A senior police source told the Guardian: "We have never made any direct reference to Lee Boxell. It is other people who have speculated. We are looking at the activities of Brian Field but are not making links because we have no evidence."

Mrs Boxell, who lives in Chartwell Place, Cheam, with husband Peter, spoke of her distress at hearing that old TV footage had been dredged up without permission and reading papers covering her son's case without talking to her first.

She said: "It's been 13 years now and it just does not get any easier."

Mrs Boxell is now resting her hopes on a conclusion being reached with the help of DNA matching.

"We have not had DNA done yet, but we are next on the list. Police will go through his room including all his clothes. His room is still as it was when he left."

Lee, who was 15 and a pupil at Cheam High School, had been on his way to watch Charlton versus Millwall at Selhurst Park. He was last seen in Sutton High Street.

November 30, 2001 12:30