Prisoner jailed wrongfully for rape and murder pleads with authorities to release him after true criminal confesses

UK:   A killer has admitted he may have carried out an attempted rape for which a man has spent 11 years in jail.

Evil Mark Dixie, 44, is serving a minimum of 34 years for raping and murdering model Sally Anne Bowman, 18, in 2005.

But Dixie has confessed he may also be responsible for an horrific assault on the Costa del Sol in 2003 for which Romano van der Dussen, 41, is still in prison.

The Dutchman has always declared his innocence and claims he got 15 and a half years after being fitted up by police.

Dixie’s DNA was found on the Spanish victim and he was living in the area when attacks on three women took place.

The admission came at HMP Frankland, Co Durham, when detectives visited him to take a sample for a DNA test requested by Spanish police re-examining the attempted rape.

One officer wrote that Dixie stated he “may be involved” in the offence in Spain.

Romano, in prison in Palma, said: “Dixie’s DNA was found on one of the victims and now he has as good as confessed. What more proof do they need that I am innocent?”

The ‘confession’ is revealed in an appeal lodged by Romano’s lawyers at the Supreme Court in Madrid.

Dixie also told the officer he wishes to co-operate with the Spanish authorities.

Investigators there believe Dixie violently sexually assaulted three women in Spain in the early hours of August 10, 2003.

Speaking from Palma prison, Romano said: “Dixie’s DNA was found on one of the victims and now he has as good as confessed.

 “What more proof do the Spanish need that I am innocent? I’ve been in prison for nearly 12 years for crimes I did not commit.

“It’s time the Spanish authorities admitted their mistake and released me.”

Sally Anne’s mother Linda Bowman, 51, has previously said she believes Romano is innocent and that Dixie carried out the three Spanish attacks.

Dixie, a pub chef from Streatham, South London, was high on drink and drugs when he killed Sally Anne near her home.

The brutal crime sparked one of Scotland Yard’s biggest ever murder investigations.

Dixie, from Streatham, south London, was caught by chance when he gave a DNA test after being arrested over a pub fight in June 2006.