Killer chef to appeal

Mark Dixie, the former Mitchells & Butler's chef who was found guilty of the murder of Croydon teenager Sally Anne Bowman, is to appeal against his conviction.

Dixie was arrested for the murder in his chef whites while working at the Ye Old Six Bells, one of M&B's Vintage Inns pubs, in Horley, Surrey, on 27 June 2006.

He was sentenced to 34 years in prison in February after killing 18 year-old Bowman.

His legal team will argue that the jury at his trial should never have been told about Dixie's attempt to rape a Jehovah's Witness 20 years ago as it prejudiced his trial.

After Dixie was found guilty M&B told Caterersearch that it would do everything it could to assist any employees of the pub affected by the case.

• The police operation to capture, arrest and convict Dixie for the murder of Sally Anne Bowman is the subject of a BBC1 Crimewatch Special at 22.35 on Tuesday, 8 April.

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By Christopher Walton