COPS ARE SORRY BUT THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED

Killer brought to justice-19 years c after brutal murder. Sexual predator guilty of 33 charges & sentenced to life.

- MARK MCGIVERN

THE sexual predator who murdered Emma Caldwell has finally been brought to justice - 19 years after the brutal killing.

Police apologised for their handling of the case but former detective Gerry Gallacher, who cracked it, said: "To put it bluntly, there are officers from this case who should be utterly ashamed of themselves.

FAMILY & VICTIMS DESERVED BETTER

Cops apologise for bungling case as evil predator is found guilty of murder-19 years after he slipped through the net

MURDERED EMMA Caldwell's family received an apology from police last night after their long search for justice finally came to an end.

Iain Packer, 51, was jailed for life and will serve at least 36 years for the 2005 murder after he was convicted of 33 charges against 22 women during a three-decades reign of physical and sexual violence from 1990 to 2016.

The fiend will go down as one of Scotland's most prolific sexual predators, with his long list of victims including sex workers, women he lived with, guests at "adult parties" and his first target - a teenage girl he raped at her home.

After a seven-week trial, the depraved former sign fitter showed little emotion as jurors returned guilty verdicts yesterday.

But there were calls last night for a full public inquiry into the bungled police investigation of Emma's death which led to an almost 20-year fight for justice.

The then Strathclyde Police force has been accused by Emma's family lawyer Aamer Anwar of a catalogue of failures - including a botched four-year investigation into four innocent Turkish suspects.

Apologising to the Caldwell family and other victims, Assistant Chief Constable Bex Smith said: "Emma Caldwell, her family and many other victims, were let down by policing in 2005. For that, we are sorry.