Ian Huntley Soham murders

ian kevin huntley born in grimsby, lincolnshire, on 31 january 1974, first son of kevin , linda huntley. spent 2 months living in village of hopton-on-sea, norfolk, , spent time living in scunthorpe, lincolnshire.

in february 1999, huntley (then aged 25) met 22-year-old maxine carr @ hollywood s nightclub in grimsby town centre. moved in him @ flat in barton-upon-humber, small town on southern banks of river humber. carr found job packing fish @ local fish processing factory while huntley worked barman. huntley, time legally known ian nixon, travelled cambridgeshire on days off father working school caretaker in village of littleport near ely.

in september 2001, huntley applied position of caretaker @ soham village college, secondary school in small town between newmarket , ely. huntley accepted post , began work on 26 november 2001; caretaker s job came tied cottage.

trial , subsequent revelations

huntley s trial opened @ old bailey in london on 5 november 2003 before mr justice moses. charged 2 counts of murder. families of wells , chapman present duration.

huntley admitted girls had died in house; claimed accidentally knocked wells bath while helping control nosebleed, , caused drown. chapman witnessed , claimed accidentally suffocated while attempting stifle screaming. time realised doing, late save either of them. based on version of events, admitted manslaughter.

the jury rejected claims girls had died accidentally and, on 17 december 2003, returned majority verdict of guilty on both counts of murder. huntley subsequently sentenced life imprisonment, minimum term decided lord chief justice @ later date.

after huntley convicted, revealed had been investigated in past sexual offences , burglary, had still been allowed work in school none of these investigations had resulted in conviction.

in august 1995, when huntley 21 years old, joint investigation launched police , social services in grimsby, after 15-year-old girl stated had been having sex huntley. police did not pursue case against huntley in accordance girl s wishes.

in march 1996, huntley charged in connection burglary @ grimsby house took place on 15 november 1995, when , accomplice allegedly stole electrical goods, jewellery , cash. case reached court , ordered lie on file. in march 1996, huntley once again investigated on allegations of having sex underage girl, again not charged. month later, huntley investigated once again on allegations of underage sex, allegation did not result in charge. same outcome occurred following month when investigated on allegations of having sex 13-year-old girl.

in april 1998, huntley arrested on suspicion of raping woman. admitted having sex woman claimed consensual. police decided not charge him. month later, huntley charged rape , remanded in custody after 18-year-old grimsby woman claimed have been raped him on way home nightclub in town. charge dropped week later after crown prosecution service examined cctv images nightclub , determined there no chance of conviction.

in july 1998, huntley investigated police on allegations indecently assaulted 11-year-old girl in september 1997. however, never charged, though in april 2007 confessed attacked girl. investigated on allegations of rape on 17-year-old girl in february 1999 no charges made against him.

the final allegation came in july 1999, when woman raped , huntley – suspected local police serial sex offender – interviewed. supplied dna sample , had alibi provided maxine carr assert innocence. woman subsequently said huntley not rapist. case victim had not identified or named huntley attacker.

home secretary david blunkett ordered inquiry these revelations, chaired sir michael bichard, , later ordered suspension of david westwood, chief of humberside police. inquiry criticised humberside police deleting information relating previous allegations against huntley , criticised cambridgeshire constabulary not following vetting guidelines. added complication in vetting procedures fact huntley had applied caretaker s job under name of ian nixon, although did state on application form once known ian huntley. believed humberside police either did not check under name huntley on police computer – if had have discovered burglary charge left on file – or did not check either name.

sentence

huntley sentenced life imprisonment , on 29 september 2005 minimum term decided. on date, high court judge mr justice moses (who had been trial judge 2 years earlier) announced huntley must remain in prison until had served @ least 40 years; minimum term not allow him released until @ least 2042, time 68 years old. in setting minimum term, mr. justice moses stated: order make offers little or no hope of defendant s eventual release.

the previous allegations had been made against huntley regarding sexual offences , burglary charge had remained on file made public after conviction , sentencing. revealed huntley had dribbled , refused answer questions after arrest, had led him being sectioned under mental health act 2 months before declared fit stand trial. doctors @ rampton secure hospital found no evidence of mental illness in assessment of huntley, , police s belief huntley had feigned madness further strengthened when former girlfriend contacted them , stated huntley feign mental illness during 1990s when came attention of police on various allegations.

huntley among last of more 500 life sentence prisoners waiting have minimum terms set lord chief justice after home secretary s tariff-setting procedures declared illegal in november 2002 following legal challenge convicted murderer anthony anderson, minimum term had been increased home secretary during 1990s. convicted of murder after 18 december 2003 have minimum term set trial judge, final decision resting high court instead of home secretary.