How They Caught... Robert Morley

Imraan

Robert Morley

Robert Morley

Robert Morley

On 11th July 1985, nine year-old Imraan Vohra was reported missing by his parents in Avenham, Preston. He had finished school at 3.15pm, and was due to attend his local mosque at 5.30pm. When he failed to arrive, the alarm was raised and his anxious parents telephoned the police at 9pm.

The last positive sighting of Imraan was by his schoolfriend. They had been playing marbles in the playground of Frenchwood Junior School. His favourite place to play was at nearby Avenham Park, where he had number of dens. Police concentrated their search there. Local police joined the hunt and mounted police combed the entire district.

At 5am on 13th July 1985, 38 hours after he had gone missing, Imraan’s body was found lying naked from the waist down, in one of the dens where he used to play. He had been sexually assaulted and strangled. In a chilling twist, his trousers had been hung to a nearby tree.

Immediately a massive manhunt was launched. Over 100 investigators were drafted in to solve the case and a huge number of people were interviewed, all without success. Although DNA was recovered from the crime scene, technology in the 80s relied heavily on blood grouping, and no blood match could be extracted. Despite huge efforts, Imraan’s killer could not be traced, and eventually the investigation had to be scaled down.

In 2001, the case was re-opened under a Cold Case Review. DNA technology had come a long way since the 80s, and there was hope that a match could now be identified. The Forensic Science Service (FSS) were called in to extract traces of DNA from crime scene samples obtained in 1985. Scientists painstakingly pieced together specimens and collated the existing evidence.

Finally, in 2006, a DNA profile of Imraan’s killer was compiled. By 2008, advances in DNA genetic work meant that the database could be searched for offenders who were likely to have a familial link.

One man appeared at the top of the list. He was revealed to be a close relative of the offender and in 2009 Robert Morley was identified as Imraan’s killer. He had died of lung cancer 12 years earlier. DNA from a lung biopsy, taken at the time of Morley’s treatment, was compared to the DNA from the 1985 murder scene.

In order to satisfy themselves that the correct man had been identified, police then began piecing together Morley’s past. It was soon discovered that Morley had been convicted of indecent exposure at the age of 14 and his life was fraught with aggression and abuse. A heavy drinker, he had moved around the country with known links in London, Lancashire, Hertfordshire and West Sussex. Father to a number of children, Morley had a string of relationships, most of which were violent.

During the enquiry it became increasingly apparent that there was a strong possibility that Morley may have committed other crimes against women and children. Today, police appeal for those victims to come forward.

• • Were you a victim of Robert Morley? Do you recognise the pictures of him throughout the years?

• • Did you know Robert Morley? Did he ever confess to other crimes?

• • Robert Morley was also known as ‘Bob’ and was from London. He also had known links in Lancashire; in Salford, Rawtenstall, Accrington, Bury and Preston. He also lived in Hertfordshire, Worthing in Sussex and Essex.

Please use the form below to contact us about this appeal (items marked * are required).