Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman had been missing for over a week when I knocked on the door of Ian Huntley’s cottage to ask him to help.

I had no idea I was about to enter the crime scene of one of the most sickening child murders this century.

Yet within minutes I was perched on the sofa in the school caretaker’s living room with his fiancée Maxine Carr – later dubbed Britain’s most hated woman.

I could not have known then that I was sitting down with one of the most evil couples in modern history…

— 

To read Sam Greenhill’s chilling account of what happened next sign up to The Crime Desk newsletter for free HERE.

Each week our team will bring you unrivalled insight, expert analysis, and in-depth reporting on the cases you can’t stop thinking about.

Every newsletter will be packed with exclusive features, interviews and the breaking stories dominating today’s headlines.

Delivered to your inbox every Wednesday, completely FREE.