A landmark Court of Appeal ruling has quashed the conviction of Peter Sullivan - the UK’s longest serving victim of a miscarriage of justice - following a two decade-long campaign led by law firm Switalskis.

Peter Sullivan, 68, spent more than 38 years in highest security prison, HM Prison Wakefield, after being convicted in 1987 for the murder of Diane Sindall in Bebington, Wirral. He has maintained his innocence since his charge.

The breakthrough came after advanced DNA testing confirmed that semen found on the victim revealed a full male DNA profile that doesn’t belong to Peter Sullivan. Had testing been attempted earlier – before technology was sufficiently advanced – it could have degraded or destroyed the evidence. This key evidence led the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to refer the case back to the Court of Appeal in November 2024.

Switalskis Solicitors submitted formal grounds of appeal in December 2024, following the CCRC’s referral. The grounds highlighted the scientific breakthrough, errors in the original investigation process, and the absence of reliable evidence.

On the 13 May, the Court quashed Peter’s conviction, agreeing that the DNA evidence rendered his conviction unsafe.

Sarah Myatt, Solicitor Advocate from the Switalskis crime team has represented Peter for almost two decades with support from in-house barrister Jim Littlehales as junior counsel. Sarah says: “This is an unprecedented and historic moment. Our client, Peter Sullivan, has been proven innocent after serving 38 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. After years of dedicated work and a forensic review of the original evidence and trial process, justice has finally been served. This outcome is a testament to Peter’s determination and to the commitment of our team.

“Peter is a quiet and private person. We respectfully ask that he is now given the space and privacy to process the magnitude of this moment and to begin to rebuild his life.”

Peter Sullivan has issued the following statement via Switalskis: “I lost my liberty four decades ago over a crime I did not commit. We know now how very different the times we live in are, from scientific advances, legal practice and methods of investigation and questioning by the police.

“What happened to me was very wrong. But it does not detract or minimise that all of this happened off the back of a heinous and most terrible loss of life. I did not commit murder or unlawfully take the life of any person throughout the span of my own.

“As God is my witness, it is said the truth shall set you free – it is unfortunate that it does not give a timescale. As we advance towards resolving the wrongs done to me, I am not angry, I am not bitter. I am simply anxious to return to my loved ones and family, as I’ve got to make the most of what is left of the existence I am granted in this world.

 “I am aware of how cruel time can be to a person stripped of their youth and mobility, sight and hearing. I have had to silently endure this and watch it stripped from me, in the worst environment imaginable. I will not comment on the horrors done to me over that time, there are too many. With this, I humbly request that you allow me my privacy while I begin repairing what I may from the driftwood that is my life.

“I am so grateful to Sarah Myatt and Jim Littlehales from Switalskis Solicitors who have been committed to my case for 20 years. They have stood by me through the good times and the bad while I fought to prove my innocence. I’d also like to thank Jason Pitter my KC and Emily Cairnes and her team at the CCRC. Without the combined efforts of Sarah, Jim, Jason and Emily, this outcome wouldn’t have been possible. I will be eternally grateful to each and every one of them. Thank you also to the Miscarriage of Justice Support Service, Matilda and Leon have been very helpful in helping me prepare for today. I would also like to say thank you to my loved ones and family members who have stood by me and who continue to support me through this.

Finally, I would like to say how sorry I am to the family of Diane Sindall who have now got to come to terms with the death of their daughter being down to someone else I long to see the right thing done for this horrible crime so that they will find peace. Thank you for listening to me.”

While celebrating Peter’s long-overdue exoneration, the Switalskis team continues to acknowledge the important context of the case. Sarah says: “We’ve never lost sight of the impact this devastating crime has had, and continues to have, on Diane Sindall’s family and the close-knit community in Bebington. Peter’s quashed conviction leaves deeply important and unresolved questions.”

Switalskis will continue to support Peter with his future legal requirements.