An ex-detective says he believes a killer convicted of gunning down his family is innocent.

Jeremy Bamber, 60, is serving a whole life tariff after being convicted of murdering his adoptive parents Nevill and June, both 61, his sister Sheila Caffell, 26, and her six-year-old twins Daniel and Nicholas at White House Farm, Tolleshunt D’Arcy, in 1985.

He has always protested his innocence and claims Ms Caffell, who suffered from schizophrenia, shot her family before turning the gun on herself.

Now former detective Mark Williams-Thomas, who helped expose Jimmy Savile’s sex crimes, says he does not believe Bamber is guilty.

Jeremy Bamber.

Jeremy Bamber.

Instead he said believes Ms Caffell murdered the family before taking her own life.

Mr Williams-Thomas also revealed he still writes to Bamber in jail.

Speaking to That’s Life’s Crime Scene magazine, he said: “I don’t believe Jeremy Bamber murdered his family - I think his sister Sheila Caffell did it and then took her own life.

“I write to Jeremy who is still in jail. I write to a few inmates.”

Sheila Bamber with twins Daniel and Nicholas. All three were murdered by Jeremy Bamber. 1984.

Sheila Bamber with twins Daniel and Nicholas. All three were murdered by Jeremy Bamber. 1984.

White House Farm – a six-part drama series about the murders - aired on ITV last year and is now streaming on Netflix.

Mr Williams-Thomas, who served with Surrey Police, said the programme portrayed Bamber as being “cocky” and as someone who acted strangely after his family were killed.

bamber

Jeremy Bamber

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He added: “There isn’t any one way of behaving in that situation. Sometimes people laugh out of nerves and shock.”

Bamber has had two appeals rejected but is continuing to compile evidence in a bid to secure a third.