CHIPPENHAM NEWS: PEOPLE in Cornwall have rallied around the family of convicted double rapist Ian Cortis.

Cortis, Wiltshire police's prime suspect following the disappearance of young nursery nurse Amanda Edwards, was questioned for four days before being released.

Just hours later police made the grim discovery of Amanda's body buried at a building site in Malmesbury.

Originally from Lanner, near Redruth, Cortis, 42, moved to Wiltshire following an eight-year sentence for two rapes handed down by a judge at Bodmin Crown Court in July 1988. He had admitted both charges.

This week people in Lanner were remaining tight-lipped about Cortis and closed ranks to protect the family who are well respected in the area.

His father Pat, who lives in May Gardens, refused to make any comment, as did regulars at the Lanner Inn and The Coppice Inn where Cortis used to drink before his conviction for the two rapes.

Lanner's district councillor John Thomas, who worked with Cortis and his father 15 years ago, said: "Obviously it is a shock to everyone in the village. I feel sorry for his father. Nobody expects or deserves that.

"I do feel sorry for the family and really sorry for the people who have lost a daughter.

"I can't judge anyone. I worked with Ian as a builder, but what he did in his private life I don't know. I knew he had had trouble before but it was a shock to find out what happened and totally unexpected."

In 1988 Cortis was convicted of two cases of rape, committed in 1987 and 1988, at Bodmin Crown Court. He was given an eight-year jail sentence and served four-and-a-half years. In the first incident the plasterer befriended a 41-year-old businesswoman before attacking and raping her.

At the time the woman said she feared for her life because Cortis' personality changed and he appeared possessed.

Eight months later Cortis raped the 53-year-old mother of a friend who was alone in her bedroom because her husband was away on business.

In both cases Cortis later apologised to his victims and begged them not to tell anyone.

Summing up the case at the time trial judge Mr Justice Nolan said the only feature in his favour was he had spared his victims the ordeal of giving evidence by pleading guilty.

"The aggravating feature is that these ladies were attacked in the privacy of their own homes and you plainly terrified them," he said.