Age: 49 (63 after sentence)
Sex: male
Crime: murder
Date Of Sentence: 13 Jun 1980 (for 14 years)
End Of Full Sentence: 13 Jun 1994
Place: Velva Liquids, South Shields
Source: discovery.nationalarchives.co.uk
Ernest Clarke murdered Elieen McDougal, aged 16, and dumped her torso and head in a million gallon petrol silo where it remained for nine years. The case was known as the 'torso in a tank'.
The remains were discovered when the tank was drained and police identified the girl through records of missing people and the fact that the petrol had preserved the corpse.
The prosecution claimed that Eileen, who used to baby sit for Clarke, was beaten on the head with a hammer and dismembered by him.
He was said to have killed her between 17 and 24 January 1970.
see release article
see National Archives - J 82/4315, DPP 2/6994, DPP 2/6995, DPP 2/6996, DPP 2/6997, DPP 2/6998, DPP 2/6999, DPP 2/7000, DPP 2/7001
see Newcastle Journal - Wednesday 11 June 1980
