Killer linked to unsolved sex attacks

Jasinskyj from police photographs 1981 (left) and 2001

Friends and colleagues of former Army cook Tony Jasinskyj never had any suspicion about the dark secrets in his past.

A former colleague described the convicted murderer as "the nicest guy you could ever meet - he would do anything to help anybody."

However, police believe he may be responsible for a string of unsolved sex attacks.

Jasinskyj, 45, from Leicester was jailed for life for the murder and rape of schoolgirl Marion Crofts 20 years ago.

He was caught after traces of his DNA were found on the clothing and body of the teenager.

I feel like a bad judge of character - I just knew him as a nice guy

Former colleague

Jasinskyj had been arrested and charged with assault after beating his second wife in the months before he was arrested for Marion's murder.

It was when he was arrested for his wife's assault that he gave the fateful mouth swab that would provide the crucial DNA link to the murder and rape of the schoolgirl.

Following the assault he was prohibited from visiting his home or seeing his wife and children.

Jasinskyj, who was working night shifts as a security guard in Leicester, asked a colleague if he could stay with him.

Key events

1981: Marion Crofts body found

1983: Police investigation scaled down

1991: DNA sample taken from Marion's clothes

2001: Jasinskyj arrested on suspicion of assault and a mouth swab is taken

2001: Jasinskyj arrested for Marion Crofts' murder

2002: Jasinskyj is jailed for life.

The 33-year-old colleague, who did not want to be named, said: "I was having a few money problems so I agreed to put him up for a few days.

"He wasn't a problem. He was out working most of the time."

Although Jasinskyj always seemed cheerful and happy, he missed his wife and children and used to talk about them all the time.

The colleague said: "He just slept a lot, got up, smoked a lot, ate a bowl of Cheerios and played the guitar, then went to work."

But the colleague said he would never forget the day in April last year when Jasinskyj was arrested over the murder of Marion Crofts.

"It was unbelievable. I feel like a bad judge of character. I just knew him as a nice guy."

Jasinskyj was one of the 24,013 men questioned back in 1981 as part of the original investigation

Police now believe that he may have carried out a string of sex and violent attacks in the two decades since he killed Marion Crofts.

Several police forces are considering Jasinskyj as a prime suspect in unsolved serious offences.