Police 'one step away' from killer of teacher

The killer of the special needs teacher Jane Longhurst probably knew her, and was likely to have been a regular visitor to the bird sanctuary near where her body was found, police said yesterday. Detectives added that they were "very close" to Ms Longhurst's killer, but said they had no suspects.

Ms Longhurst's burning body was discovered at Wiggonholt common, next to an RSPB bird sanctuary near Pulborough, West Sussex, on Saturday. She had been strangled and her body had been preserved for several weeks.

The 31-year-old had last been seen returning to the flat she shared with her partner, Malcolm Sentance, an education welfare officer, in Brighton on 14 March.

A psychological profiler from the National Crime Facility was building up a picture of the killer, police said yesterday.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis said the bird sanctuary was a favourite spot of Ms Longhurst. "I would suggest that this isn't the actions of someone completely foreign to her," Det Ch Insp Dennis said. "The area was a favourite spot of hers – it might have been a significant place for them."

Det Ch Insp Dennis also said that items recovered suggested the killer knew Ms Longhurst. He said: "There are certain things found at the scene that only people who knew Jane could have known.

"He has stored Jane for four to five weeks and has now released her in a panic attack.

"He has allowed us to get close to him. I am sure that provided things go well, we will be making steps in the near future. We are very close to him."

* A 59-year-old man admitted yesterday conning thousands of pounds out of the parents of murdered former air hostess Lucie Blackman, who went missing in Japan in 2000.

Michael Hills, of Waterloo, London, pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining property by deception at Chelmsford Crown Court. He falsely promised that he could secure her release in return for £15,000.