‘Scalp Hunter’ John Sweeney – did he kill more?

Published: 26th May, 2011
by JOSIE HINTON

THE conviction of “Scalp Hunter” John Sweeney last month finally laid to rest a 10-year mystery surrounding the discovery of a dismembered body in Regent’s Canal.

But Scotland Yard detectives fear there could be further victims of the man who was also described as a “demonic killer”.

Carpenter Sweeney, who lived in Kentish Town, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of the murder and mutilation of two former girlfriends. 

The remains of Paula Fields and Melissa Halstead were found in canal waters in Camden Town and Holland – the heads and hands of both women have never been retrieved.

Although they died 10 years apart, detectives were able to link the two murders to 54-year-old Sweeney.

They have now released some more of Sweeney’s drawings in a bid to trace three further ex-girlfriends whose whereabouts are un­known.

Two are South American former girlfriends, Maria and Irani, who haven’t been seen since the late 1990s. 

Irani, from Brazil, was in her mid-40s while Maria, from Columbia, was in her late 30s. 

Both are thought to have frequented pubs in north London.

Another is an English woman in her late 20s or early 30s, a devout church-goer who was training to be a nurse and may have moved to Switzerland to work.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Groves said: “As Sweeney contemplates a life behind bars, I can assure him that this investigation will continue as we seek to identify and trace other potential victims in the UK, Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, who may have suffered a ­similar fate to that of Melissa and Paula.

“We are appealing for information to trace a number of unidentified women who were associated with Sweeney.

“We don’t know what happened to these women – we just need to find out more about them and their relationship with Sweeney. 

“We also need to identify another woman whose drawing was found among his possessions and is marked ‘London 1985’. 

“We would urge anyone who recognises this woman as them or someone they knew to get in touch.

“We are also appealing for information to trace individuals who were associated with Sweeney or people who know his exact whereabouts whilst he visited and worked across Europe in the 1980s and 1990s.”

Sweeney has been described as a handsome and charming man who led a bohemian and transient lifestyle.

He used a number of aliases such as Joe Johnson, Joe Carroll and Scouse Joe, and he spoke with a stutter.

Police have released further images of Sweeney in the 1980s and 1990s in the hope anyone who knew him will come forward. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Incident Room at Barnes Green Police Station on 0208 247 7821 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.