241 Pizza

But twice a jury at Newcastle Crown Court failed to reach a verdict and after the second hearing in October 1991, the labourer was formally cleared.

In 1998 he was jailed for seven years for another savage attack, and he later told a female prison officer he had killed Ms Hogg.

The Crown Prosecution Service took the unusual decision to try him for perjury, as he had lied on oath during the murder trials.

He was sentenced to serve six years in jail after admitting two counts of perjury at Teesside Crown Court in 2000, to follow on from the seven-year sentence he was already serving for the vicious attack, whose victim was also a former lover.

Dunlop confessed to the prison officer knowing it could expose him to a retrial under new double jeopardy laws.

Interviewed by police in 1999 about his perjury, Dunlop said he was sorry the murder happened.

"I can’t stop thinking I can’t take it away. It’s there all the time."

Dunlop agreed that he was aware that as the law stood, he could not stand trial for the murder again. But he also made clear that he knew then that the double jeopardy issue was being reconsidered.

"It might change in the future - that’s not the thing, is it? I’ve come clean cos I need help... it’s as simple as that... I’m not proud of what I’ve done."

When asked by police if he meant that he could not stand trial for murder again, Dunlop replied: "Yeah, well yeah, that’s what I assume that’s what I was meaning then...

"But I didn’t know about that double jeopardy law at the time, you know, and the consultation papers that’s been going on a while...

"But like I said, I’ve got to get rest, doesn’t it, if I come clean.

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