Brian Field

Case overview

Brian Field was convicted of the murder, rape, and strangling of 14-year-old boy Roy Tutill in 1968. He pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey and was sentenced to life in prison in 2001.

Timeline

• 23 April 1968 — Roy Tutill, aged 14, vanished after hitch-hiking from Kingston Grammar School toward his home in Brockham, near Dorking, Surrey; Brian Field later drove up to a lay-by, ordered Roy to undress, and sexually assaulted him.
• 23 April 1968 — Roy Tutill was strangled in a lay-by with a piece of rope after he resisted.
• 3 days later (after 23 April 1968) — Roy Tutill’s body was found dumped in woodland owned by Lord Beaverbrook near Givons Grove, Leatherhead; he was still wearing his striped school blazer and his satchel was found nearby.
• 20 March 1968 — Roy Tutill awaited his birthday, hoping to save fares to buy a new bicycle and model trains.
• 12 November 1969 — At Wrexham Magistrates, Field was convicted and fined for gross indecency after he passed obscene notes to undercover police in a public lavatory.
• November 1972 — At Aberdeen Sheriff’s Court, Field was jailed for two years for indecently assaulting a 14-year-old boy.
• April 1982 — At Oswestry Magistrates Court, Field was fined for gross indecency after fondling a 17-year-old boy.
• September 1983 — At Shrewsbury Crown Court, Field was jailed for four years after being convicted for two counts of buggery.
• June 1986 — At Stafford Crown Court, Field was jailed for four years for falsely imprisoning two teenagers aged 13 and 16.
• 1996 — A sample from the crime scene was placed on the national database; later DNA technology matched Field to the sample taken from the boy’s body and/or trousers.
• 18 September 1999 — Field was pulled over for drink driving; a mouth swab was taken and later matched to the 1996 sample.
• 21 February 2001 — Field was arrested at his home in Solihull and claimed to know nothing of the killing in three interviews.
• Before trial date in 2001 (Old Bailey) — Field was charged with buggery and began to confess, admitting murder in court.
• 2001 (sentence date not explicitly stated in provided text) — Field was sentenced at the Old Bailey by Judge Gerald Gordon to life in prison.

The offence

Victim

Roy Tutill was a Kingston Grammar Schoolboy who lived at home with his parents and an older brother, Colin, and he had a sister named Margaret.

Facts of the killing and sexual assault

Field picked up Roy and promised to drop him further down the road; Field then began touching Roy’s leg. When Roy resisted, Field pulled into a lay-by, ordered Roy to undress, and sexually assaulted him. Roy was later strangled in another lay-by with a piece of rope. Roy was described by Field as convulsing and gasping for air until his body “suddenly went lifeless.”

Roy’s body was found dumped three days later in woodland owned by newspaper tycoon Lord Beaverbrook near Givons Grove, Leatherhead. Roy was still wearing his striped school blazer, and his satchel was found nearby. Bruises were present all over Roy’s body, and his neck had the attacker’s nail marks, consistent with a struggle. Police said Roy had been abducted, raped and strangled.

After Roy’s death, Field drove home to his wife and their newborn son who was less than two weeks old. After satisfying his desires, Field hid the body in the boot of his white Mini car and returned home. Two days later, he discarded Roy’s body.

Background and personal history

Field was a machine engineer for the Milk Marketing Board and later worked in the Midlands as a gardener for cash and travelled as a farm machine repair man. He had lived in Solihull in the West Midlands and was described as a loner.

Field had previous convictions for offences against children, and investigators later regarded him as an extremely dangerous convicted paedophile.

Field’s birth name was stated as Brian Lull. He was brought up at a children’s home in Lincolnshire, where he joined the choir and took part in a BBC programme in 1951 with Paul Field, who had owned and founded the children’s home. Paul Field was described as Field’s new father, and Paul Field appeared with his family on an early “This Is Your Life.”

Field was adopted and grew up in a house with 12 foster boys. Field was described as abandoned by his mother, a prostitute, only a day after his birth in Bourne, Lincolnshire, in 1936.

Field joined the Royal Marines and spent two years in Malta and Cyprus, and it was stated that he had his first homosexual encounter during service.

Field married twice and fathered three children. It was stated that his first wife, Celia, died in a road crash in 1966, and his second wife, Mary, divorced him after his pursuit of sex with boys came to the attention of police.

Investigation

Early investigative efforts and DNA limitations in 1968

Roy’s murder caused a public outcry and led to one of the biggest manhunts ever seen in Surrey. Detectives questioned more than 10,000 people and took more than 2,000 statements. Intimate samples were recovered from Roy’s body and clothes, but in 1968 scientists could only determine that the attacker was either “A” or “O” blood group. A witness had seen Roy getting into a car but mistakenly identified the Mini for another marque, leading police down a blind alley.

Field was not arrested for years and was not interviewed at the time of Roy Tutill’s murder; he later became a suspect after a family member tipped off detectives.

Drink-driving link and DNA re-testing

By the mid 1990s, advances in DNA technology allowed suspects to be traced from objects they had touched by the sweat they left behind. In 1996, a sample from the crime scene was obtained and placed on the national database. Field was arrested in 2001 after he was matched through DNA linked to the 1996 sample after a drink-driving stop in 1999.

In September 1999, Field was pulled over for drink driving; a saliva swab was taken and later matched to the 1996 sample.

The exhibits were resubmitted for forensic tests, and DNA techniques matched Field to the stain found on Roy’s trousers and/or the sample taken from the boy’s body.

Quotes related to the investigation

Detective Superintendent Philip Doyle said: “The one regret is we did not catch him then to prevent him abusing all these other boys.” He also said: “You never forget.”

Chief Superintendent Gordon Fraser said: “He was very chatty. Then we asked him if he would mind giving some blood or hair for a DNA test.” “He slept on it and said the next day, ‘I have been telling lies. I murdered Roy Tutill’.”

Chief Superintendent Gordon Fraser also stated: “There are many lines of inquiry, we may interview Field again, and until we establish what happened to David and Patrick, we cannot rule him out.” “He said: ‘There are many lines of inquiry, we may interview Field again, and until we establish what happened to David and Patrick, we cannot rule him out. ’” “I have no evidence to believe they are still alive.”

Arrest and interviews

Field was pulled over for drink driving on 18 September 1999. He was arrested at his home in Solihull on 21 February 2001. He claimed to know nothing of the killing in three interviews. After being charged with buggery, Field started to slowly confess and admitted murder in court.

Trial and sentencing

Plea and evidence

Field pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to murder. It was said to be the longest period between a crime being committed and solved.

At sentencing, Judge Gerald Gordon addressed Field’s actions and the effect on Roy’s family. Wendy Joseph, QC, told the court that Roy was strangled from behind with a rope and was sexually assaulted. It was said that Field described Roy convulsing, gasping for air, and that he carried on until Roy “suddenly went lifeless.”

Adrian Fulford QC, defending, said Field had told police he killed Roy “as a result of panic” and described Field as having a “terrible, corrosive and all-consuming secret.”

Sentencing remarks (verbatim where provided)

Judge Gerald Gordon told Field: “This was the killing of a normal happy healthy boy - an act particularly obnoxious for all right minded people. ” “But your crime goes much further than that. Having taken a just 14 year-old boy away in your car to satisfy your sexual desires you then committed forceful dreadful sexual acts. ” “And shortly thereafter you strangled him, almost certainly with a rope. ” “You dumped him in the boot of your car and returned home to your wife and young son. Two days later you discarded his body. ” “These acts and the consequences must have haunted his parents for the rest of their lives. ” “The rest of his family and friends must still suffer for what you did. ” Judge Gordon added: “Modern science techniques have led to your conviction, and stand as a warning there are few if any hiding places for sexual and violent criminals from modern techniques.”

Judge Gerald Gordon also stated: “These acts and their consequences must have haunted his parents for the rest of their lives and the rest of the family must still suffer from what you did. ” “When you strangled him, I have no doubt you sought to destroy the sole source of evidence against you. ” “Thirty three years later, you have been proved wrong.”

Wendy Joseph QC said: “He described the boy convulsing, gasping for air and said he carried on until Roy suddenly went lifeless.”

Quote regarding danger posed

Detective Chief Superintendent David Cook said outside court: “By his plea of guilty, Brian Field has publicly admitted that he is a very dangerous person.” “When you take into account his previous criminal history, it leaves you in no doubt what a danger he poses to society and in particular, to young boys.”

Prior and related offending

Field had multiple earlier convictions and offences involving indecency, sexual assault, buggery, and false imprisonment.

Gross indecency: 12 November 1969

At Wrexham Magistrates on 12 November 1969, Field was convicted and fined for gross indecency after he passed obscene notes to undercover police in a public lavatory.

Indecent assault: 14-year-old boy (November 1972)

In November 1972, Field was jailed for two years at Aberdeen Sheriff’s Court for indecently assaulting a 14-year-old boy. It was stated that he pounced on a young lad walking along a quiet country lane, forced him to strip from the waist down, molested him, and then drove off.

Gross indecency: 17-year-old boy (April 1982)

In April 1982, Field was fined for gross indecency at Oswestry Magistrates Court after fondling a 17-year-old boy.

Buggery convictions: September 1983

In September 1983 at Shrewsbury Crown Court, Field was jailed for four years after being convicted for two counts of buggery.

False imprisonment: June 1986

At Stafford Crown Court in June 1986, Field was jailed for four years for falsely imprisoning two teenagers aged 13 and 16. The boys were given a lift by Field and were threatened with a wheelbrace. Field forced them to remove their clothing and they escaped by jumping from the moving car.

Appeals

No appeals were described in the provided material.

Outcome

Field was sentenced to life in prison in 2001 for the rape and murder of 14-year-old Roy Tutill.

Aftermath and subsequent investigations

Roy’s surviving family was described as tortured by the knowledge that the killer remained at large for so long. It was stated that both of Roy’s parents died before Field was caught.

Remorse and comments from investigators

Detective Chief Superintendent David Cook said Field’s plea demonstrated dangerousness due to his previous criminal history.

Additional matters questioned after Field’s conviction

In November 2006, West Midlands detectives questioned Field in connection with the disappearance of two schoolboys, David Spencer, aged 13, and Patrick Warren, aged 11, who went missing on Boxing Day 1996 in the Chelmsley Wood area of Birmingham. They were last seen after going out on a bicycle, and it was stated that one had received as a Christmas present.

Field was believed by West Midlands detectives to have been jailed for life in 2001 for the rape and murder of Roy Tutill more than 30 years earlier. Officers from Operation Stenley were believed to have visited Field in Full Sutton prison, York, to question him. Police considered early indications suggested the youngsters had planned to run away, and officers had made extensive inquiries.

Death of Mark Billington

Police also questioned Field about the death of 15-year-old Mark Billington found hanged at his home in 1997. An inquest ruled the boy committed suicide, and Field denied any involvement in his death. It was also stated that Mark Billington was found hanged from a tree in 1984, and that an inquest recorded an open verdict; his mother Winifred believed he was murdered. The provided material also stated that West Midlands police expected to reinvestigate the matter.

Possible further offences

Detectives said there were still dozens of unsolved suspicious deaths that would be re-examined. The murder of Roy Tutill remained Surrey’s only unsolved child murder until Field’s arrest in February 2001.

Police also appealed for any other possible victims over the last 30-odd years to come forward.