We may never find Linda's body

Det Chief Insp Paul Granger said that although her estranged husband Glyn Razzell has been convicted of murder, the case remained open if new information came to light that helped lead them to her final resting place.

But he said that information was unlikely to come from Razzell himself.

"If information came to light as to the location of a body then we would obviously act on it and, in that respect, the inquiry remains open," said DCI Granger.

"But I don't think Razzell will tell us where the body is and if he does it will not be for a long time.

"He is an evil, cold, calculated and intelligent man, but he made mistakes and that is how he ended up getting caught."

Police conducted extensive hunts for Linda, including a fingertip search of a two-mile radius from where her red Ford Escort was found in Alvescot Road, Old Walcot.

The Operation Docker team drafted in specialists from across four police forces.

They used Avon and Somerset's underwater team to search lakes across the borough, dog units to search Barbury Castle, large swathes of Hodson, parts of South Gloucestershire, Queen's Park and Badbury Clump.

But, apart from her mobile phone in an alleyway linking Alvescot Road and Upham Road, nothing of Linda has been seen since March 19 last year.

Police also visited the Cotswold Water Park, near South Cerney, after Razzell had made comments to a friend about quicksand there being a good place to dispose of a body.

DCI Granger said they had no future plans to search the park's 127 lakes.

A search of Sapperton Tunnel on the Severn Thames Canal was also carried out after Razzell had asked if police had been there to look for a body. And they went to Weston-super-Mare and Carmarthen after witnesses claimed they had seen someone fitting her description.

DCI Granger, who has been with Wiltshire Constabulary for 17 years, said that the case was one of the most emotionally draining and difficult of his career.

On Friday Linda's estranged husband a 44-year-old former investments manger was jailed for life for her murder,

DCI Granger said: "Operation Docker has been, without question, one of the most difficult things I've had to do.

"I don't think it was possible to remain emotionally detached from this case. Once you meet the family you soon realise they are such genuine people and you can't help but be affected.

"During the trial they conducted themselves in such a dignified manner and I don't mind admitting I shed a tear at the end. I think a lot of people did because so many people were affected by this case.

"Linda's death has affected the lives of so many people especially her four young children. Our thoughts are with Linda's family and friends and our hope is that one day we will be able to locate Linda so the family can lay her to rest."

In the 18 months leading to the trial, detectives spoke to 2,600 people, followed up more than 2,200 different lines of inquiry and took 1,540 statements.

During the £250,000 investigation 9,000 documents of police evidence were collected and 1,800 exhibits.

DCI Granger said: "Razzell had decided he had nothing to do with her disappearance or murder, then tried to convince other people. We had to work hard to find the truth.

"We looked at a number of different theories of what could have happened to Linda, which included her running off, having an accident, committing suicide or being killed by a stranger, but they all pointed back to Glyn Razzell."

gsheldrick@newswilts.co.uk

Barrister socks it to 'em

One of the first people to phone DCI Granger after the verdict was announced was Wiltshire Chief Constable, Dame Elizabeth Neville.

Later that afternoon his team, which included Det Sgt Adrian Wys and Det Cons Tim Mobey and Pete Ritson, joined prosecution barrister Michael Parroy for a few celebratory drinks.

Mr Parroy had even given each of the officers a pair of red socks, which they all wore on the final day of the case, after weeks of playful jesting at the barrister's colourful choice of footwear.