13/11/2007

Body May Be Missing Student

Police investigating the disappearance of a student in 1991 are examining what are believed to be human remains found in a garden in Margate.

Dinah McNicol, 18, from Tillingham in Essex disappeared after hitching a lift following a trip with friends to a music festival in Liphook in Hampshire.

Last week, Essex Police announced that they were reviewing the investigation into the teenager's disappearance.

It has now been revealed that what are believed to be human remains have been found in the back garden of a house in Margate in Kent.

A spokesperson said that tests would be carried out on the remains, but stressed that it was too early to say whether the remains are those of the missing 18-year-old.

The search of the house and garden is continuing. It is understood that Peter Tobin formerly lived in the house. Tobin is currently serving a life sentence for the rape and murder of Polish student Angelika Kluk, whose body was found in a church in Glasgow last year.

Police said that Dinah had decided to hitch a ride home from the music festival with a man she met at the event on August 5 1991.

Initially, Dinah and her companion were taken to a petrol station on the A3, where they were then picked up by a man in a car.

Police enquiries have suggested that Dinah's friend, who lived in Surrey, was dropped off at Junction 8 of the M25 near Reigate, and the driver then continued his journey alone with Dinah.

She was never seen again and the car and driver have since disappeared.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on: 01206 762122 or Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111.

(KMcA)


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