'Police beat me into confessing brutal murder'

THE victim of Britain's longest miscarriage of justice claims police officers beat him into falsely confessing to a brutal murder for which he spent 38 years behind bars.

- PAUL JEEVES

Peter Sullivan, now 68, was branded the "Beast of Birkenhead" after being found guilty of the murder of florist Diane Sindall, 21, back in 1986.

But his case was referred to the Court of Appeal after freshly recovered DNA evidence cast doubt on his involvement.

And earlier this year his conviction was quashed.

He walked free in May after serving almost four decades in prison.

As he was freed he insisted he was not angry or bitter, but he has now revealed how he was "stitched up" by "bullying" detectives.

Mr Sullivan, who has learning difficulties, is demanding an apology from Merseyside Police.