Detectives quiz man over butchered bin bag bodies

DETECTIVES were last night continuing to quiz a man over the murder of two British women whose butchered bodies were found dumped in bin bags.

Tony Hardy, 51, was being held at a north London police station after parts of the mutilated bodies were found in his council bedsit in north west London and in wheelie bins nearby.

One of the victims, a 30-year-old prostitute from Nottinghamshire, was yesterday identified by her breast implants. Her head and hands were still missing. She has not been named by police. Her family was informed by police and was said to be distraught.

The second woman, who is also white and aged in her late teens or early 20s, has still to be identified.

Detectives have not ruled out that there might be further victims and police divers today searched the Regents Canal in north west London.

They are keeping an open mind over other unsolved murders including that of prostitute Paula Fields, 31, whose body was found in the canal in February 2001.

Her body was cut in to six pieces and stuffed in hold-alls. Her head was never found.

Drains at Hardy’s council flat have been searched by specially trained police using remote control cameras and a woman’s black stiletto which he kept on his windowsill was being forensically examined.

A year ago, the body of another prostitute Sally White was found in the flat. The death was initially treated as suspicious by police but a post mortem examination found she had died of a heart attack.

Detectives are also exploring the National Missing Persons database to look for other victims. Police had until late last nightOK to question Hardy at which point a senior officer can authorise a 12-hour extension. They will be able to apply for a further extension today.