After almost two decades, the killer of sex worker Emma Caldwell has been brought to justice, ending years of anguish for her family and survivors of his crimes

Iain Packer, 51, has finally faced the consequences of his heinous actions, being convicted and sentenced to 36 years in prison for the murder of Emma Caldwell, a 27-year-old sex worker, in April 2005. The verdict brings closure to a case that has haunted her family and law enforcement for nearly two decades.

Emma’s lifeless body was discovered in Limefield Woods, near Biggar, Lanarkshire, by a dog walker, a month after she vanished from Glasgow’s city centre. Packer, driven by sexual violence, had taken her to the secluded woods, where he strangled her and left her naked body in a ditch.

The High Court in Glasgow found Packer guilty not only of Emma’s murder but also of an appalling series of sexual offences against 22 women over several years. His conviction includes 10 counts of rape, 12 counts of sexual assault, two indecent assaults, two abductions, two assaults, two attempted rapes, and one charge of lewd and libidinous behaviour.

Lord Beckett, presiding over the case, condemned Packer’s actions as an “extraordinary campaign of sexual violence” and highlighted the particularly horrifying nature of Emma Caldwell’s murder.

The emotional toll of the trial was evident as Emma’s mother, Margaret Caldwell, and other relatives wept in the courtroom. Survivors of Packer’s attacks, present in the public gallery, also expressed their relief and sorrow as the verdicts were announced.

Packer’s conviction marks the end of a long and troubled investigation, marred by initial police errors that allowed him to remain at large for years. His eventual capture was aided by evidence from survivors who passed away before they could see him brought to justice.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of sexual violence and the importance of tenacity in seeking justice for victims and their families