Police arrest man more than 20 years after 6-year-old was killed

Cold case detectives have today arrested a man in connection with the murder of a six-year-old schoolboy more than 20 years ago.

Rikki Neave was last seen leaving his home on the Welland estate in Peterborough to go to school in November 1994 before his naked body was found in woodland the next day.

A post mortem examination found the youngster had been strangled to death .

 
The man, who is in his 30s and from Peterborough, is currently being held in custody at a police station in Cambridgeshire after being arrested this morning.


In a statement on Tuesday morning, Cambridgeshire Police said they had arrested a man, aged in his 30s and from Peterborough, on suspicion of murder.

A spokesman said: "He is currently in custody at a police station in Cambridgeshire."


Police at the murder scene after the discovery of Rikki Neave's body
Rikki's mother Ruth Neave, now 45, was charged with murder at the time but she was later found not guilty by a jury. She pleaded guilty to child neglect and cruelty and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

In recent years she has campaigned for Cambridgeshire Police to reinvestigate the case, saying his killer remains at large.

Officers decided to relaunch the investigation in June last year, with a dedicated team of specialists assigned to the case.

Over the past ten months officers have been methodically building a timeline of Rikki's last movements and made a national appeal for help via the BBC's Crimewatch programme.

Speaking on the eve of the 21st anniversary of his death Detective Chief Inspector Richard Wall from Cambridgeshire Police said: "We have had an overwhelming response from the public and have built a strong timeline of Rikki's last movements.

"Even 21 years on people still remember clearly the events leading up to Rikki's death and I would urge people to continue to come to us with any information they have.

"At the time of Rikki's death we know that drug use was common place on the estate and are keen to hear from any professionals who may have been helping people and given information about the murder.

"We are confident that we are closing in on those responsible for Rikki's death and it is only a matter of time before we have that vital breakthrough that leads us to them."