A BOLTON man who killed his pregnant wife has been linked to the murder of a woman more than 35 years ago.

Alexander Smyth died of cancer in 2008 aged 60, but would have been charged with the Preston murder of 26-year-old Joan Harrison if he was still alive, police said last night.

Six days before he died, a swab of his DNA was taken when he was breathalysed for drinkdriving, and advances in DNA technology have now linked him to evidence found at the murder scene in 1975. The mother-of-two’s death was at one stage linked to Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe.

Smyth lived in Breightmet in the 1980s, and in 1984 he was found guilty of the manslaughter of his pregnant wife, Violet.

The couple married in 1979 and the court heard that he stabbed her with a kitchen knife at their home in Newby Road after a night out ended in a violent row over their two children.

The court heard Mrs Smyth bit him on the nose and he grabbed a knife.

He was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

In 1981, he was jailed for two years and nine months for the attempted rape of a 17-year-old girl in Bolton.

He was aged 33 at the time and living in Wasdale Avenue, Breightmet.

He is understood to have attacked the teenager in a car park opposite the Ancient Shepherd pub in Bold Street, Bolton.

Forces across the country are now re-examining old cases to see if Smyth could have been responsible following his connection to the Joan Harrison murder in Preston.

His details are being circulated to several forces where it is known he had lived.

Born Alexander Smyth in Derry, Northern Ireland, he is thought to have used at least 14 aliases including his final identity, Christopher Smith, as he pursued his criminal career.

Lancashire Constabulary said the grandfather would have been charged with the murder of Joan Harrison if he was still alive and they would have expected a conviction.

Det Ch Supt Graham Gardner, head of crime for Lancashire Constabulary, said: “This has been a long-running and complex homicide inquiry for the Constabulary.

“Joan lost her life in a most brutal way and despite the enormous efforts of all those originally involved, no charges were ever brought.

“Advances in DNA interpretation over the years have finally allowed us to identify Smyth as the man at the scene of Joan’s murder.

“That fact, coupled with other evidence we have gathered over recent months, has been sufficient to convince the Crown Prosecution Service that Smyth would have been charged with her murder, had he been alive today.

“It is with some regret that Smyth is not still alive to stand trial for his crime.”

Smyth wrote a threepage note the day before he died, in which he seemed to confess to the crime.

Mrs Harrison’s body was found in a disused lock-up garage in Preston in November, 1975. She had been sexually assaulted and a bite mark was found on her breast.

Several items of jewellery were missing including two gold wedding rings.

It is understood Smyth may have come across her by chance after being released from a prison sentence he had served in the area.

The connection with Sutcliffe came to light in 1978 — when the serial killer was still at large — as West Yorkshire Police received the first of three letters purporting to be from the Ripper.

Following Sutcliffe’s capture and confession, those messages and an audio tape were proved to be from hoaxer John Humble, known as Wearside Jack.

Smyth’s confession note, dated January 29, 2008, read: “Two how (sic) ever it concerns I would like to put the record straight. I can’t go on with the guilt. I have lived with it for over 20 years.

“I am truly sorry for all the pain I have caused to anyone. Please believe me when I say I am sorry.

“I love my grandkids and my daughter. I cannot go back to prison anymore.

Please God help my family who I worship. I have been out of trouble for over twenty years so please God help me.

“I am so sorry. God forgive me. I love you all forever.”

Det Ch Supt Gardner said: “My view of the note is that it comes tantalisingly close to a full admission. He is clearly remorseful for something he has done in his past, something he had not been to prison for.

“I don’t believe it is referring to his first wife’s death or any of his other convictions.

“His family told us he was a paranoid man who was fearful of a knock on the door from the police.”