The murder went unsolved for 33 years, until Brian Lunn Field confessed to the crime after DNA evidence surfaced in 2001.

[3] It was the oldest cold case to be solved in the United Kingdom until the conviction of David Burgess for the 1966 murder of Yolande Waddington in 2012.

[3] Tutill's parents, Dennis and Hilary, notified Surrey Police when he failed to arrive home that evening.

Samples taken from Tutill's body and clothing were analysed at the time, but provided no evidence except that the suspect was of either 'A' or 'O' blood group.

[6] In the 1970s, investigators travelled to Scotland to interview a man named Brian Lunn Field from Solihull, West Midlands, who had been sentenced to two years in prison for the attempted abduction and indecent assault of a 14-year-old boy in Aberdeen.

[8][6] In the late 1990s, a national review was held to investigate unsolved murders and see if any could be traced to current convicts or other crimes.

He was held in police custody during which time his detention was extended for more than the initial 24 hours in order to assist the investigation.

Field denied knowing Tutill or having anything to do with his death, and whilst admitting to his historic sexual offences against boys said he had put that behaviour behind him.