Nearly forty years after a brutal murder shocked Merseyside, a case once considered closed has been thrust back into the spotlight.
What authorities long believed was a solved crime is now being re-examined from the ground up, after it emerged that the wrong man spent most of his adult life in prison while the real killer remained free.
A £20,000 Reward to Find the Truth
Merseyside Police, in partnership with Crimestoppers, has announced a £20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the real “Beast of Birkenhead.”
Investigators now say an unknown man is responsible for the rape and murder of 21-year-old florist Diane Sindall in 1986.
The reward is meant to prompt anyone who has kept quiet for years, or who has lingering suspicions, to finally come forward.
Diane Sindall’s Last Night
Diane Sindall was on her way home from work on the night of August 1, 1986, after finishing a shift at the Wellington Pub in Bebington, Wirral, where she worked part-time alongside her job as a florist.
Driving her blue Fiat, she ran out of petrol and was later seen walking between midnight and 12.20am, likely heading toward a bus stop or nearby garage. She never made it home.
About twelve hours later, her body was discovered in an alleyway by a dog walker.
Diane had been raped and violently beaten to death, a crime that devastated her family and left the community reeling.
A Man Wrongly Branded a Monster
Peter Sullivan, who was 30 at the time, was arrested and eventually convicted of Diane’s murder.
His confession during police questioning led to him being labelled the “Beast of Birkenhead,” and in 1987 he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 16 years.
Sullivan later withdrew his confession, insisting it had been forced.
Despite repeatedly protesting his innocence, he remained behind bars for 38 years, making his case the longest miscarriage of justice in British legal history.
The DNA Breakthrough That Changed Everything
The case took a dramatic turn when evidence was re-examined using DNA testing techniques that were unavailable at the time of the original investigation.
Semen samples collected from the crime scene revealed a DNA profile that did not belong to Peter Sullivan.
The profile also did not match anyone in Diane’s family or her fiancé at the time, David Beattie, who has since moved to Australia.
In November 2024, the Criminal Cases Review Commission referred Sullivan’s case back to the Court of Appeal, and in May his conviction was officially quashed, clearing his name at last.
Journalism That Forced a Second Look
A key moment in reopening the case came after an in-depth investigation by journalist Stephen Wright for the Mail on Sunday.
After months of reviewing evidence and inconsistencies, the renewed attention helped push authorities toward re-testing the DNA, ultimately uncovering proof that Sullivan was not the killer.
Allegations of Abuse and a Forced Confession
Speaking to the BBC from a hidden location with his appearance and voice disguised, Sullivan described his early treatment by police as frightening and overwhelming.
He said he was denied access to a lawyer during his initial interviews and claimed he was physically assaulted while in custody.
According to Sullivan, officers threw a blanket over him and struck him repeatedly with truncheons to force his cooperation.
Exhausted and unable to endure the pressure any longer, he says he confessed simply to make the ordeal stop.
He has since called for a formal apology from Merseyside Police.
A Trial Built on Circumstantial Evidence
At Sullivan’s original trial, prosecutors claimed he had spent the day drinking and went out armed with a crowbar, which he was said to have borrowed from a neighbour.
Witnesses placed him near the scene following a BBC Crimewatch appeal.
Sullivan denied being anywhere near the location of the murder and said he never possessed a crowbar.
He explained that inconsistencies in his statements to police were due to confusion and his inability to recall his movements clearly.
His refusal to admit guilt later played a major role in repeated parole denials.
Police Ask the Public to Speak Up
With Sullivan’s conviction overturned, Merseyside Police have launched a renewed appeal for information.
Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson has stressed that even after nearly four decades, there are still people who know something about what happened that night.
Investigators are particularly interested in anyone who was on Borough Road late on August 1 or in the early hours of August 2, 1986, and anyone who remembers suspicious activity around Bidston Hill, where Diane’s belongings were later found and where a small fire was reportedly seen on August 3.
Police have also said they can trace and request DNA samples from suspects or relatives, even if the person has since died or emigrated.
Crimestoppers and the Promise of Anonymity
Crimestoppers has emphasised that anyone who contacts them will remain completely anonymous.
Calls and online reports cannot be traced, and no personal details are required.
The organisation believes that someone, somewhere, has the missing piece of information that could finally bring answers to Diane’s family.
A Family Still Waiting for Justice
Nearly forty years on, Diane Sindall’s loved ones are still waiting for closure.
Even Peter Sullivan has expressed sorrow for the family, saying they have been left once again without knowing who killed their daughter after decades of believing the case was resolved.
What Comes Next?
With a confirmed DNA profile pointing to an unknown suspect and a substantial reward now offered, the investigation has entered a crucial new phase.
Police say the DNA does not match anyone on the national database and is not linked to any other known unsolved crimes.
For investigators, this moment is about correcting a historic failure and delivering long-overdue justice.
For the public, the message is clear and direct: it is never too late to come forward and tell the truth.
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