Vicky Hamilton murder: 'Nightmare is over' for anguished family

VICKY Hamilton's family said their 17-year nightmare had come to an end today as her killer was jailed for at least 30 years.

Vicky Hamilton's family said their 17-year nightmare had come to an end today as her killer was jailed for at least 30 years.

After Peter Tobin was sentenced for the Falkirk teenager's murder, her sister Lindsay Brown said "justice has prevailed".

Tobin, 62, abducted, sexually assaulted and then killed the 15-year-old, before cutting up her body and burying it in his garden.

Ms Brown, 24, read a statement outside court on behalf of Vicky's siblings minutes after seeing Tobin convicted.

She said: "Justice has prevailed today and myself, Lee and Sharon would like to begin by thanking the Solicitor General, Frank Mulholland, and his team for securing this much sought-after conviction.

"We are hoping we can now move on as a family and start to remember Vicky as the loving sister she was before she was so tragicaTlly and cruelly taken from us.

"Vicky's abduction also robbed us of our mum, Janette, who never came to terms with the fact Vicky never came home that night and who died of a broken heart two years later, never knowing what happened to her daughter.

"We take comfort in the knowledge that mum and Vicky have been looking over us and giving us the strength needed to cope during these difficult times."

She thanked the police forces involved in the investigation which became one of Britain's longest running missing persons inquiries before becoming a murder probe.

She added: "We are especially grateful to DCI Keith Anderson who never gave up hope of finding our beloved sister over all these years."

She also spoke of Angelika Kluk who died at the hands of Tobin when he worked as a church handyman in Glasgow in August 2006.

She added: "We would also like to take the opportunity to offer our condolences to the family and friends of Angelika Kluk.

"They are in our thoughts today, as it was only after her death that we eventually found out what happened to our sister.

"We know only too well the hurt and grief they will have suffered.

"Lastly, Vicky was much more than a girl who was abducted and killed by a stranger, or the girl on a "missing" poster. Our sister was a warm, clever, generous girl who shared many happy years with us.

"We will always remember Vicky as she lived, not as she died."
Vicky's father Michael also spoke after hearing the guilty verdict.

He said: "I want to thank all concerned for bringing my daughter Vicky's murderer to justice.

"And I would also like to thank Solicitor General, Mr Frank Mulholland and his team for all the hard work involved.

"Furthermore, I want to thank Lothian and Borders Police and CID for their hard work in finding my daughter, Vicky.

"I also want to thank everyone in Margate, Kent and Edinburgh for providing evidence. Also, family and friends who have been there from day one, including Gary and Sandra from Spain and everyone who gave evidence and their patience.

"And finally, Lord Emslie for the use of his court, and the jury for their verdict."

Police describe how they tracked Tobin's movements

COMMENTS by Detective Superintendent David Swindle and Tom Nelson, Director of Forensic Services, Scottish Police Services Authority.

"During the investigation into the murder of Angelika Kluk we established that Peter Tobin had used numerous aliases, was linked to around 38 mobile telephone SIM cards and had travelled extensively throughout the UK during the year prior to her murder.

"In November 2006 we formed Operation Anagram to populate and analyse a life timeline of Peter Tobin's movement and share information with other UK Police Forces to enable them to asses any links he had to other criminality.

"It was during November 2006 that Strathclyde CID officers, tasked with researching his background, established that Tobin had resided in Robertson Avenue Bathgate in 1991 which was around the dates and in the same area as Vicky Hamilton had gone missing.

"I updated Lothian and Borders Police regarding this information and they pursued this as a separate investigation linked to a review of the Vicky Hamilton Missing Person enquiry which they had initiated around that time.

"Operation Anagram continues to be managed by Strathclyde Police with established links to all UK Police Forces under the overview of ACPO / ACPOS.

"Peter Tobin is known to have travelled extensively throughout the UK over the 62 years of his life and inter force liaison is important to correlate any potential links between Tobin's movements and outstanding missing females or victims of crime.

"At this time, Operation Anagram continues to be a live national scoping exercise to identify whether there are any issues of concern that will require further action.

"There is no plan by any UK Police Force to search any premises but these options will be considered should the intelligence and evidence developed within operation Anagram warrant it.

"Any searches will be carried out in consultation with current occupants or owners.

"Whilst Operation Anagram is ongoing, I am not able to discuss or be drawn into speculation about specific individuals or locations where Tobin is known to have resided."

The Forensics Angle

Tom Nelson, Director of Forensic Services, Scottish Police Services Authority said:

"We are glad that after what must have been an agonising wait for the Hamilton family, Peter Tobin's trail of death and suffering has met justice.

"The forensic aspects of this case have played a significant role in supporting the police investigation. Throughout, Tobin repeatedly tried to conceal his evil actions from the authorities but vital evidence from a number of disciplines within the Forensic Services, including scene examination, DNA analysis and fingerprints.

"The painstaking dedication and expertise of our forensic experts, allied to the skills and determination of the investigating officers, helped to build a true picture of events – bringing to justice one of the most appalling killers our justice system has seen in recent years."