A Worksop man who murdered a woman 30 years ago and never disclosed the location of her body has been denied parole for the seventh time.

Jailed for life in 1996 when he was found guilty of the murder of 26-year-old Sheffield woman Teresa Shephard, Peter Turner was told by the Parole Board it was "not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public".

In recent weeks, police executed a five-day search on land off Piper Lane in Aston, Rotherham, but failed to find Teresa's body.

Teresa Shephard went missing in June 1995. She had been in a relationship with Turner, which ended in the summer of 1994, the Parole Board was told.

Peter Turner of Worksop was convicted of murder in 1996 and has just been denied parole.

placeholder image — Peter Turner of Worksop was convicted of murder in 1996 and has just been denied parole.

However, Turner developed an obsession about Teresa seeing other men and arranged to view a house being sold by Teresa's new partner. He then used a hammer to strike his head, fracturing his skull.

Teresa disappeared shortly before the hearing at which she was to give evidence for the prosecution in Turner's trial for the grievous bodily harm offence, and has not been seen since.

"It is said that Mr Turner murdered the victim and then disposed of her body because she was going to give evidence against him in the trial," the panel said.

Turner was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years for murder and seven years for GBH, to be served concurrently.

Murder victim Teresa Shephard. Her body has never been found.

So far he has spent an additional 13 years in prison for the protection of the public, the board was told.

Although his behaviour in prison had been 'exemplary for many years', the panel said Turner's continued denials and lack of disclosure had limited opportunities 'to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the offence and to identify all relevant risk factors'.

They said his risk factors included his use of violence and a willingness to carry weapons, problems in intimate relationships and poor decision making.

A previous professional assessment had identified 'a lack of empathy, a lack of remorse or guilt and conning and manipulative behaviour'.

When asked directly by the panel, Turner, now aged 54, 'denied being violent towards the victim, murdering her, or having any knowledge of where her body is'.

The panel was 'not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public'

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: “We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board refused the release of Peter Turner following an oral hearing. The panel also refused to recommend a move to open prison.

“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

“The panel carefully examined a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as exploring the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

“Parole reviews are always undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority."

"Under current legislation he will be eligible for a further review in due course. The date of the next review will be set by the Ministry of Justice.”