Suzy Lamplugh murder suspect is urged to confess as it is revealed he is terminally ill

A former detective who believes convicted murderer John Cannan also killed Suzy Lamplugh has called on him to ‘clear his conscience’ and confess before he dies.

Cannan, 68, is serving 35 years in prison for murder, and he was named in 2002 by police as the prime suspect in the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh, a 25-year-old estate agent who vanished in July 1986 in Fulham, West London. 

Ex-detective Jim Dickie has renewed calls on the convicted killer to confess to his alleged involvement in the abduction and murder of Ms Lamplugh, after it was revealed Cannan is currently receiving end-of-life treatment behind bars.

Mr Dickie said: ‘He can tell all, cleanse his soul, clear his conscience and go to his maker having done the right thing by the families, which is the most important thing.

‘I would urge him to take that course of action because it would give the families some closure which they deserve. 

A former Met Police detective who believes John Cannan (pictured) killed Suzy Lamplugh has called on him to confess before the 68-year-old terminally ill inmate ‘meets his maker

While employed as a detective superintendent for the Metropolitan Police, Jim Dickie (pictured) investigated Ms Lamplugh’s case in the early 2000s, during which time he became convinced Cannan had murdered her

Suzy Lamplugh (pictured), a 25-year-old estate agent, vanished in July 1986 in Fulham, West London, and her body has never been found

He added: ‘The outcome of this is entirely in John Cannan’s hands.’

Cannan, who is receiving palliative care in Full Sutton jail, East Yorkshire, has always maintained he had no involvement in Ms Lamplugh’s death.

Ms Lamplugh’s parents died without finding out what happened to their daughter, whose body has never been found.

While employed as a detective superintendent for the Metropolitan Police, Mr Dickie investigated Ms Lamplugh’s case in the early 2000s, during which time he became convinced Cannan had murdered her.

Mr Dickie also lays the blame at Cannan’s door for the murder of Sandra Court, a 26-year-old insurance clerk from Bournemouth, whose body was found in a water-filled ditch on the Avon Causeway in May 1986.

‘There’s a possibility he’ll [Cannan] die without ever saying what he knows’, Mr Dickie told The Mirror.    

A photofit of the client Suzy went to meet before she disappeared was released, but police did not name Cannan as the prime suspect until 2002

John Cannan, 68, was named as the prime suspect by police in the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh, 25, in Fulham, West London, in July 1986, but the CPS said they had insufficient evidence to prosecute. He is now on his death bed

He continued: ‘The problem is that no one can force him to tell us what’s happened in respect of Suzy Lamplugh and also Sandra Court.

‘I strongly believe he’s responsible for both those girls’ demise and for all I know there may be other victims out there.

‘When he was interviewed back in 2001, he told me, “There’s some things I haven’t been caught for”.

‘It may well be that he’s referring to those or other victims.

‘There’s no doubt about it: John Cannan is a serial sex offender and a convicted murderer.’

Canaan was handed a life sentence in 1989 for the murder of Shirley Banks, 29, of Bristol, in 1987. 

Before that, he was also convicted of raping a woman in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, and he is suspected of having carried out a number of other sex attacks.