Man arrested on suspicion of murdering six-year-old boy more than 20 years ago
Cambridgeshire Police hold man in custody in connection with historic murder where little boy's body was found naked and strangled
COLD case detectives have arrested a man on suspicion of murdering a six-year-old boy more than 20 years ago.
Rikki Neave was last seen leaving his home on the Welland estate in Peterborough to go to school on November 28, 1994.
His naked body was found in nearby woodland the following day.
A post-mortem examination found he had been strangled.
In a statement made this morning, Cambridgeshire Police said they had arrested a man, aged in his 30s and from Peterborough, on suspicion of murder.
A spokesman said: "He is currently in custody at a police station in Cambridgeshire."
Rikki's mother Ruth Neave, now 45, was charged with murder at the time but later found not guilty by a jury. She pleaded guilty to child neglect and cruelty of Rikki and his two sisters, Rebecca, then eight, and Rochelle, three, and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
In recent years she has campaigned for Cambridgeshire Police to look again at the case - saying his killer remains at large.
Ms Neave called a press conference in 2014 to urge the force to reopen their investigation.
She said: "I loved Rikki, he was a wonderful child.
"For the last 20 years, I have been going through living hell from the public opinion of me caused by all the lies.
"I wasn't a perfect mother but I never hurt my children and I should never have admitted to those offences.
"All I want now is justice and for his killers to be caught.
"I know people out there think I'm a murderer but I'm determined to prove that somebody else did this to my boy."
In November last year, on the 21st anniversary of the little boy's death, cops said they were "closing in" on the killer and had made "significant progress" in identifying who was responsible.
Speaking at the time Detective Chief Inspector Richard Wall said: "We have had an overwhelming response from the public and have built a strong timeline of Rikki's last movements.
"Even 21 years on people still remember clearly the events leading up to Rikki's death and I would urge people to continue to come to us with any information they have.
"We are confident that we are closing in on those responsible for Rikki's death and it is only a matter of time before we have that vital breakthrough that leads us to them."
Anyone with information about Rikki's death should contact police on 01480 425882, email [email protected] or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.