Man admits to murder of woman who is still missing

Karl Hutchings was due to stand trial later this month, but has changed his plea to guilty

A man has admitted to murdering a woman who was last seen in January and whose body has not been found.

Julie Buckley, who was 54 when she disappeared, was recorded on CCTV shopping in the town of March in Cambridgeshire on 28 January and, after concerns for her welfare were raised in early February, police found bloodstains at her home in nearby Christchurch.

Karl Hutchings, 48, of The Hill in Christchurch, initially denied her murder but has now changed his plea to guilty.

Cambridgeshire Police believe he killed Ms Buckley on 30 January, then used her bank cards and sold her possessions. He is due to be sentenced on 24 October.

Cambridgeshire Police believed Karl Hutchings killed Julie Buckley at her home and the force now hopes he will tell them where her body is

Police said they visited Ms Buckley's home, also on The Hill, on 13 February.

Officers discovered blood which was later forensically linked to her, and Hutchings was arrested that day.

Despite searches and public appeals, Ms Buckley's body has not been found.

Det Ch Insp Richard Stott, of Cambridgeshire Police, said he was "pleased" Hutchings had pleaded guilty ahead of a trial that was due to take place later this month.

"It quickly became apparent that something serious had happened to Julie, given the abrupt and complete halt in her communications from 28 January," he said.

"I am pleased Hutchings has finally decided to take responsibility for what he has done and, while it won't help the pain Julie's family are feeling, it will make the process easier for them.

"I hope he will now tell us where he has left her body, so she can be laid to rest with dignity."

CCTV issued by Cambridgeshire Police showed Julie Buckley when she was last seen - in a supermarket on 28 January in the Fenland town of March

A 49-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, both from Christchurch, who were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, remained under investigation, the force added.