THE Beast of Wombwell has today been found guilty of the rape and false imprisonment of a teenage woman in the 1970s.

Peter Pickering, 80, was convicted by jury following a week-long trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Pickering, who is in a secure hospital for the rape and murder of 14-year-old Wombwell girl Shirley Boldy in 1972, attacked the 18-year-old woman just weeks before he killed Shirley, who was walking to Wombwell High School.

Pickering, who declined to give evidence at his trial, was found guilty by a jury after two hours today.

For the full story see this Friday’s Barnsley Chronicle.