38 Years Behind Bars: A Wrongful Conviction's Long Road to Justice

Peter Sullivan, who spent 38 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, has spoken out about being physically abused by police and pressured into a false confession. The 21-year-old florist Diane Sindall was brutally murdered in Birkenhead in 1986, and Sullivan, who has learning difficulties, was wrongfully convicted after being interrogated 22 times over four weeks without legal representation. During this time, he claims police beat him while he was in his cell, threatened him with additional charges, and denied him food and sleep. Sullivan told the BBC, ‘They were leathering me. It really hurt.’ His confession, made under duress, was the main evidence used against him, along with discredited bite mark analysis. After a 38-year ordeal, new DNA evidence led to his release in May 2025. Sullivan expressed frustration with the police, stating, ‘I can’t forgive them for what they’ve done to me, because it’s going to be there for the rest of my life.’ The Merseyside Police acknowledged a ‘grave miscarriage of justice’ but maintained their officers acted within the law at the time. Sullivan now seeks an apology and compensation, though the government has capped wrongful conviction payouts at £1.3 million. His story highlights ongoing concerns about police interrogation practices and the need for reform in the justice system.