COPS CLOSE IN ON THE OXFORDSHIRE REAPER

New leads in 50 year-old cold case

POLICE have reopened a 50-yearold investigation after new evidence came to light naming a possible culprit.

In August 1967, a man out walking his dog spotted a zig-zag path of trampled wheat in a field near Heythrop, Oxfordshire. Despite intensive forensic investigations involving police from across three forces, the so-called “Oxfordshire Reaper” was never identified or brought to justice.

However, in June an anonymous tip-off provided police with a possible name for the perpetrator of the crime and officers last week arrested a 60-year-old woman in a dawn raid on an address in Central London. A Thames Valley Police spokesman told reporters: “We can confirm that a woman in her early sixties has been arrested and released on bail following questioning regarding an incident of someone running through a field of wheat in 1967 in a wanton and destructive manner with intent to cause criminal damage.” suspect

It is understood that the suspect, who has not been named, strongly denies any allegation of wrongdoing. Her lawyer, Basil Humbrol

QC, told reporters that his client had a “strong and stable alibi” as to her whereabouts when the crime was committed. numbers

“There is no magic evidence tree,” Mr Humbrol said. “My client maintains that innocent until proven guilty means innocent until proven guilty. And she’s going to make a success of her case and have a red, white and blue acquital.”