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Wrongly Jailed 38 Years: £20k Reward for Real Killer
22 Jan
Summary
- Man cleared after 38 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit.
- £20,000 reward offered for information on the actual killer.
- New DNA testing reopened the 1986 Merseyside murder case.
A man wrongly imprisoned for 38 years has been released after new DNA evidence cleared him of the 1986 murder of Diane Sindall. Peter Sullivan was freed in May 2025, having been convicted of the brutal sexual assault and murder that occurred in Birkenhead.
Merseyside Police, in collaboration with Crimestoppers, has launched a renewed effort to find the true killer. The independent charity is offering a £20,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction. Detectives are investigating the circumstances of Sindall's death after she left her pub shift.
Sullivan, who has learning difficulties, claims he was coerced into a false confession in 1986. The Criminal Cases Review Commission ordered fresh DNA testing of evidence from the original investigation. This new analysis excluded Sullivan and has prompted the current appeal for public assistance.
Police are analyzing DNA samples from over 460 men, with further tests pending. They emphasize that even if the perpetrator is deceased, information provided could still assist the investigation. The reward offer is valid until April.
