Police: Odd-job man may have link to 11 murders

PETER TOBIN, who worked as an odd-job man, is now at the centre of police inquiries across Britain and Wales.

A meeting of senior officers last month highlighted 11 unsolved murders that Tobin could be connected to.

The Association of Chief Police Officers has now launched what is called a “scoping exercise” — looking at Tobin’s movements in relation to any deaths and disappearances still on police files.

Although it is not known which cases police think Tobin could be linked to, unsolved murders which fall within the timeframe include the disappearance in 1978 of 13-year-old Genette Tate in Devon.

Also in the timeframe are the 1960s murders in Glasgow of three young women: Patricia Docker, Helen Puttock and Jemima McDonald.

They were picked up at the Barrowlands dance hall.

Their killer was dubbed “Bible John” after he was heard quoting from the bible.

For the family of Dinah McNichol and the other missing or murdered women, it is the uncertainty of what happened that they hope can be resolved.

Ricky Otto, aged 37, who lives four doors away from Tobin’s former address, said: “I haven’t been here long so I didn’t know Tobin. It’s a bit surreal to have this on your doorstep. It takes a bit of sinking in.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on the news and can’t believe it.”

Kim Perks, an Essex Police spokeswoman, said investigations are continuing to find any links with the missing teenager Dinah McNicol.

“We came here looking for Dinah and we won’t leave until we’ve thoroughly searched the house and garden.

“We still think the house is linked to Dinah.

“We’re currently focusing on the ground work,” she said.

“Once we’ve done that, we’ll start to do a forensic examination of the house. We expect to be here another week.

“There have been no further finds as yet.”