Canal killer John Sweeney dies in prison

John Sweeney, a double killer convicted of murdering and dismembering two women, has died in prison. Sweeney, 69, was serving a whole-life sentence for the killings of his former girlfriends, Paula Fields and Melissa Halstead. He is understood to have died at HMP Whitemoor on 14 August.

Victims and discovery

Paula Fields, 31, was murdered in London. In February 2001, parts of her body were discovered in six holdalls floating in Regent's Canal in Camden. Her head, hands and feet were never recovered. Melissa Halstead, 33, from the United States, was killed in 1990. Her dismembered remains were found in a Rotterdam canal, but she remained unidentified for 18 years.

Police had previously jailed Sweeney for attempting to murder another former partner, Delia Balmer, in an axe attack in north London in 1994. Investigators suspected Sweeney may have been responsible for the disappearances of other former partners over the years.

Evidence from north London home

Following Sweeney's conviction in 2011, officers searched his north London residence. They uncovered hundreds of violent paintings and poems. Some of the artwork depicted a bloodied axe, and Sweeney referred to himself in writings as the "Scalp Hunter". Delia Balmer later authored a memoir detailing her experiences, which was adapted into an ITV drama in 2024.

A spokesperson for the prison service described the crimes as "horrific" and stated that their thoughts were with the victims and their families. As is standard procedure for all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman is conducting an investigation.