A man imprisoned for nearly four decades for a crime he did not commit has had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal, in what is believed to be the UK’s longest-running miscarriage of justice.

Peter Sullivan, now 68, was found guilty in 1987 of the brutal murder and rape of 21-year-old Diane Sindall in Birkenhead in August 1986. But after 38 years in prison, newly tested forensic evidence has proved his innocence.

DNA Breakthrough Clears Sullivan

The breakthrough came after the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) ordered new DNA analysis on preserved samples from the crime scene. The results found no trace of Sullivan’s DNA, casting serious doubt over the original conviction.

Sullivan, who always maintained his innocence, was described as “ecstatic” upon learning of the new evidence.

“He has always been trying and working towards a breakthrough. That DNA evidence was that moment for him,” said his solicitor Sarah Myatt.

A Community Haunted and a Case Reopened

Ms Sindall, a part-time barmaid and florist who was engaged to be married, had been walking to a petrol station after her van ran out of fuel when she was attacked. Her body was found in an alleyway, and the case prompted one of the largest police investigations in Merseyside Police’s history.

The initial investigation led to Sullivan’s conviction based on a signed confession — which he later claimed was coerced — and bite mark analysis that has since been called into question. He was convicted without the benefit of DNA testing, which was unavailable at the time.

Fresh Investigation Underway

Merseyside Police confirmed they are now re-examining the case and attempting to identify the source of the new DNA profile found on the victim. The profile does not match any on the UK’s national DNA database.

“We are carrying out an extensive investigation in a bid to identify who the new DNA profile belongs to,” a police spokesperson said.

Police are also re-contacting individuals from the original investigation for voluntary DNA samples.

Victim’s Family and Community Reaction

While Ms Sindall’s family declined to comment, the pub landlord where she worked said:

“I’m glad he’s being released if he’s innocent. It has been a long time.”

Jo Wood from the Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre in Merseyside recalled the fear that gripped the community following the murder:

“Nobody felt safe. It was a very scary time.”

A memorial stone still stands near the site of the attack, commemorating Diane and “all of our sisters who have been raped and murdered.”

Respect for the Victim

Sullivan’s legal team emphasised their sensitivity toward the victim and her family.

“We are very respectful to the fact that there is a victim. Diane Sindall and her family will be affected by this process,” said Ms Myatt.

A Landmark Miscarriage of Justice

This case now stands as one of the most significant wrongful convictions in UK legal history, raising further questions about the reliability of historical forensic evidence and confession-based prosecutions.

With Sullivan now walking free, Merseyside Police and the CCRC face renewed scrutiny to identify the real perpetrator of this decades-old murder — and deliver long-overdue justice to the victim and her family.