The solicitor of serial killer Fred West’s wife says he thinks it’s “unlikely” the body of missing Mary Bastholm will be found in the Gloucester cafe being searched by police.

Leo Goatley told Sky News West was a “fantasist” who at times made admissions to inflate his notoriety, but “he certainly did not make an admission about Mary Bastholm”.

Police have been searching Gloucester cafe Clean Plate in connection with Ms Bastholm’s disappearance after being alterted by a film crew making a documentary there.

The 15-year-old vanished in 1968 and her body has never been found.

West, who died in prison in 1995 aged 53, was previously suspected over her disappearance.

One of Britain’s most prolific serial killers, West committed at least 12 murders between 1967 and 1987 in Gloucestershire, the majority with his second wife, Rosemary.

All the victims were young women. Their dismembered bodies were typically buried in the cellar or garden of the couple’s Cromwell Street home in Gloucester, which became known as the “House of Horrors”.

Mr Goatley, labelled Fred West a “fantasist” whose crimes were part of a “dreadful, wicked, murky episode” in Britain’s history.

And that, he said, was one of the difficulties police had at the time of the initial investigation.

“Fred West was such a fantasist they had to try and work their way through the blatant lies and fantasies to get some of the facts and reality.

“He did at times make admissions but he certainly did not make an admission about Mary Bastholm, although it is said that he told his son on a prison visit that he did kill Mary Bastholm and he would use it as a bargaining chip later on to get privileges whilst he was in prison.”

Mr Goatley, who represented Rose West, said her husband may well have offered his services to the cafe while he worked doing odd jobs.

“There is a suggestion he was laying a floor there in 1968.

“I would think it very unlikely that Mary Bastholm was actually murdered or dismembered at the pop-in cafe.

“My concern is that she was abducted in a car, sexually abused and then killed and dismembered somewhere else.”

West is known to have committed at least two murders on his own.

In 1994 he admitted murdering his daughter Heather, while Rose is known to have murdered Fred’s stepdaughter, Charmaine. The couple were apprehended and charged in 1994.

But Fred took his own life while awaiting trial on 12 murder charges the following year. Rose West was convicted of 10 murders and jailed for life.

Gloucestershire Police are expected to be at the cafe in Southgate Street for a number of weeks.

Related posts:

Gun salutes in major UK cities and on navy ships mark death of Prince Philip Prince Philip’s funeral to take place on Saturday and will be televised – with 3pm national silence Remembering the rain and the jokes at the last of the duke’s 22, 219 solo engagements Queen described loss of husband Philip as a ‘huge void in her life’, says Prince Andrew Heir to Tony Blair? Clearly, you wish, David Cameron Amazon to create more than 10,000 new UK jobs this year ‘It’s wrecking lives’: Banks launch emergency hotline to protect customers from scammers England and Wales records more than 70,000 excess deaths in private homes since start of COVID-19 pandemic ‘Listen to the science’: Sir David Attenborough’s plea to world leaders from namesake polar research ship ‘Cannibal killer’ David Harker among first denied parole under Helen’s Law Queen presents award over video link after withdrawing from COP26 Man walked 28 miles to murder ex-girlfriend and her son