A MAN dubbed “a latter-day Dracula” when he was convicted of a brutal murder, claims he is the victim of a miscarriage of justice and is asking for help to prove he is innocence.

Jeffrey Cattell, 45, was jailed for life in 1999 after the vicious killing of his neighbour James Milne in his flat in Inverness House, Shepway, Maidstone.

Cattell has instructed lawyers to challenge his conviction and the case is in the hands of the Criminal Case Review Commission, which will decide whether he is allowed to appeal.

To help gather evidence in the meantime, his solicitors Green and Co, based in Romney Place, Maidstone, will put notices up in the Shepway and Park Wood areas in the hope that new witnesses come forward.

The notices read: “In June 1997, Jim Milne was brutally murdered. Do you know anything about James’ death, or do you know of anybody who may have some information about it? Material we have makes us think the man who was convicted of his death may be innocent.”

Solicitor Fionagh Green, of Green and Co, said she could not disclose details of evidence which they think casts doubt on Mr Cattell’s conviction.

The body of 52-year-old Mr Milne was found by police on June 11, 1997. The Aberdeen-born victim, known as Scottish Jim, had been stabbed in the neck and other parts of his body had been mutilated.

During Mr Cattell’s original trial at the Old Bailey, a witness described him as a “latterday Dracula”.

Cattell pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers at the time suggested drug dealers may have been behind the killing. An appeal soon after the trial ended was unsuccessful.

Police officers who worked on the case said they were baffled as to the motive for his killing.

Mr Milne was stabbed a number of times in the neck with a pair of scissors and horribly mutilated.

At the time, Det Insp Mick Judge, said: “It’s the worst thing I have ever dealt with in 15 years. We still don’t know why this happened.”

Sgt Neil Parker, another investigating officer in the case, described the killing as “horrendous”.

Mr Cattell’s defence lawyers said the case against him was “flawed and unreliable” during the 1999 trial at the Old Bailey.

Ian Peddie, counsel for Mr Cattell, said: “It is suggested relations between both men were not good.

“Mr Cattell, however, did help Mr Milne on many occasions, cooking for him and lending him things. Mr Cattell had no reason for wanting to kill Mr Milne.” He added that there was also a lack of forensic evidence.

*If you have information, call Green and Co on 01622 676769.