Murder detectives hunt for serial sex attacker

Northumbria, Cleveland and Durham forces are now involved in the hunt for Graeme Jarman, who went missing from his home shortly before 77-year-old Judith Richardson was found dead in Hexham, Northumberland, on August 19.

Detectives said 47-year-old Jarman was considered a danger to the public and was a suspect in the murder investigation.

His details have been circulated nationwide as he has links with the south of England.

Jarman has not been seen at his home in the Delves Lane area of Consett since August 17.

Durham Constabulary circulated him as missing after he failed to appear in court on a shoplifting charge on August 23.

He was seen in Stockton-on-Tees on Friday, which is when Cleveland Police joined the manhunt.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman confirmed Jarman is a registered sex offender with a previous history of violence.

Det Chief Supt Neil Adamson, head of crime at Northumbria Police, said: “We advise people not to approach him but anyone who sees him or believes they know where he is should contact us immediately.”

Jarman was described as heavily built, of average height, clean shaven, with short dark hair.

A closed circuit TV image released by police showed Jarman in Stockton-on-Tees town centre on Friday morning with a shaved head and wearing blue jeans, a light blue polo shirt with dark cuffs and collar.

Miss Richardson’s body was discovered by police in the hallway of her terraced home, in St Wilfrid’s Road after her stolen handbag and some of its contents were found stuffed into a litter bin in Newcastle city centre, 25 miles away.

Jarman has spent time in jail for kidnap, rape, armed robbery and indecent assault.

He was jailed for seven years in 1988, for the kidnap and rape in Peterborough of a 17-year-old girl he abducted and locked in the boot of his car.

At the time, Jarman had been touring holiday haunts his adoptive parents had taken him to as a child, travelling first to Scarborough and Bridlington, then to the south coast.

He was released from prison on parole in 1991 but the following year he robbed and indecently assaulted a woman in St Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire, and was jailed for 15 years.

Jarman was released in 2001 having served eight years but while on licence, he held a woman at knifepoint in Oxford before stealing her car. He was jailed in 2003 for eight years before being released in 2008 and going to live in Stockton. He moved to Consett last year, where he was subject to monthly visits from police.