After spending 38 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, a man known as the “wolfman” has had his conviction overturned in a significant development. Peter Sullivan, who was initially sentenced at the age of 30 and is now in his 60s, is believed to be the victim of one of the UK’s longest-running cases of wrongful conviction. Three senior judges overturned his conviction 17 years after his first appeal, prompting an investigation by the police watchdog.
Diane Sindall, a 21-year-old barmaid, was found deceased in Bebington, Merseyside, in August 1986, leading to Mr. Sullivan’s arrest the following month. Investigators dubbed Sullivan “wolfman” due to bite marks found on the victim’s body. Despite being given a minimum sentence of 16 years, he remained incarcerated after being convicted in November 1987.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently looking into complaints related to the Merseyside Police investigation that led to Peter Sullivan’s wrongful conviction for murder. Following a referral from the police force, the IOPC is actively reviewing records and engaging with various agencies involved in the case to establish the scope of their investigation.
Amanda Rowe, Director of the IOPC, acknowledged the severity of the miscarriage of justice suffered by Mr. Sullivan and emphasized the importance of an independent investigation given the impact of the case. The IOPC’s inquiry is separate from Merseyside Police’s ongoing investigation, which revealed a DNA profile not matching Mr. Sullivan’s.
The statement further outlined the violent nature of the assault on Ms. Sindall in 1986, leading to Mr. Sullivan’s arrest and subsequent conviction for murder. Following a DNA profile mismatch in 2021, his conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal in May 2025. The BBC aired an interview with Mr. Sullivan in November 2025, highlighting concerns about the handling of his case by Merseyside Police, which prompted the formal complaint referred to the IOPC in January.
