Brian Cummings QC and David Potter secure Guilty verdicts in Paige Chivers murder trial

July 14, 2015

Brian Cummings QC and David Potter have successfully prosecuted Robert Ewing for the murder of missing Blackpool teenager Paige Chivers.

Ewing, 60, denied murder but was convicted of killing her by a jury at Preston Crown Court.

He had an “inappropriate sexual interest” in the teenager and took advantage of her chaotic upbringing, the court was told.

Co-defendant Gareth Dewhurst, 46, was convicted of helping dispose of Paige’s body.

Both Ewing and Dewhurst were also found guilty of perverting the course of justice by intimidating witnesses and laying false trails.

This included an anonymous phone call to police about a “problem child” Ewing said had turned up on his doorstep.

Blood spots matching Paige’s DNA were found at the flat Ewing lived at the time.  Ewing claimed they came from a cut on Paige’s arm which he had treated. However, no other blood was found at the flat and a piece of carpet had been removed shortly after the teenager’s disappearance.

Ewing claimed he replaced it because his cat had urinated on it. He also made entries in his diary which the prosecution said related to sexual acts with Paige.

Det Supt Andy Webster, who led the investigation, said it had been a “challenging and complex case”.

He said Paige’s family, and particularly her brother, had shown “tremendous bravery”.

“It is nearly eight years since Paige disappeared. She has never been found. To this end, we remain committed to finding Paige and I would appeal for Ewing and Dewhurst to now tell us where she is so that she can be laid to rest with dignity.”

The pair will be sentenced on 28 July.