THE man who spent five years heading the Heather Barnett enquiry and who was more than anyone the nemesis of Danilo Restivo, has expressed his relief at the outcome.

Former Detective Superintendent Phil James was head of the Major Crime Team from 2002-2007 before he retired.

“The pressure is always there in a case like this and you can’t help but become emotionally involved because of the circumstances, particularly what was done to Heather and the fact her children found her.”

He added: “Even when I retired, as I did after five years on the case, it is still with you.”

He said there was pressure to solve the crime but also to ensure that Danilo Restivo did not claim another victim.

“It meant at times we had to have him under surveillance 24 hours a day and we have to ensure we had him under control.”

James visited Restivo’s wife several times to tell her that she was in danger too and that he had been stalking woman at Throop Mill.

“After that it made our job a bit easier because she pretty much made sure he did not go out alone,” he said.