Published: Thursday, 31st December, 2009 2:37pm

EVIL KILLER TOBIN LINKED WITH LARGS

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Depraved serial killer Peter Tobin was linked with Largs on the BBC television programme Crimewatch which was broadcast over the Christmas period.

The 'News' spoke to Detective Superintendent David Swindle, who is leading the appeal for information into the whereabouts of the serial sex killer. He confirmed that the police are looking for information about Tobin's movements in the local area.

Det Supt Swindle stated that they have received reported sightings of Tobin in the Largs area during the mid 1970s. National newspaper reports stated last week that Largs was believed to have been one of twenty towns in the UK that Tobin is believed to have stayed.

He said: "In the early stages of that investigation we established that this was an individual who travelled throughout the UK and used numerous names.

"The key is what he looked like throughout the years. People may recognise him as another individual."

Earlier this month, jurors took 13 minutes to find the former church handyman guilty of killing 18-year-old Dinah McNicol.

Tobin, who has been convicted of three murders, is currently serving life for the murders of two other women but police are now trawling through unsolved cases to find out if he has any link to them.

Crimewatch has appealed for information about the 63-year-old's movements from 1977-78 and 1985-86.

Following Tobin's latest conviction, two police forces - Sussex and Strathclyde - restarted Operation Anagram to trace his movements over the decades.

He has lived in many different UK towns and cities including Largs, Turiff in Aberdeenshire, Norfolk, Ramsgate and Bournemouth. Tobin also used several aliases including Peter Wilson, James Kelly, Paul Semple, John Tobin. Peter Proban and Pat McLaughlan. He has also had a number of occupations including Driver, Caretaker, Swimming instructor, Painter and decorator, Hotel chef, Shop owner and carpenter

For more details about the Crimewatch appeal, go to www.bbc.co.uk/crimewatch/