Lynda Spence: Killer Colin Coats 'admits guilt' 12 years on

Colin Coats' confession comes almost exactly 12 years after financial adviser Lynda Spence was brutally tortured and killed in a flat on Meadowfoot Road.

Charged with her murder, were Colin Coats and Philip Wade, who were sentenced to 33 years and 31 years in prison respectively, for their crimes.

Both men denied their guilt, but were found guilty by a jury after a lengthy trial - in which the prosecution's job was made more challenging as Lynda's body was never found.

The Mail on Sunday reported that Colin Coats has penned a letter from inside HMP Glenochil in Clackmannanshire in which he confesses to murdering Lynda.

The newspaper says it has seen the letter, written to Lynda's mother Patricia.

He says: "I feel compelled to clarify some background for Patricia Spence with her plight of finding her daughter's remains.

"Lynda's mother's animus towards me is to be expected. I tortured and killed her daughter."

It is understood that Lynda was bound helplessly to a chair for 14 days at the hands of her tormentors.

Coats took her to the attic of the flat, bound her to a chair with tape, put tape over her mouth to stop her screams, and placed glasses with taped-up lenses over her eyes.

They used an iron, a golf club, cigarettes and bolt cutters as Lynda sat blindfolded and defenceless before killing her.

Coats and Wade hired two accomplices, David Parker and Paul Smith, to guard her between the lengthy torture sessions.

Parker and Smith admitted holding Lynda hostage at Parker's flat in April 2011 and were jailed for 11 years and three months, and 11 years respectively.

Coats' aim was to force Lynda to reveal what she had done with money she owed Coats in a bogus land deal.

Coats believed he had been ripped off and wanted revenge and his money back.

Lynda was finally murdered around April 28, 2011.

Coats is believed to have cut off her head before disposing of her body.

His chilling letter also includes a claim he can assist in finally locating Lynda's remains.

Police carried out a dig at a remote location near Dunoon in Argyll last year in the belief her remains might be found in the area.

Police investigated, and carried out a dig, at a remote area near Dunoon in Argyll last year. (Image: Police Scotland)

It was reported that police approached Coats for information on her whereabouts, and that's what led them to the search area.

But the hunt was unsuccessful.

According to the newspaper, Coats said in his letter: "To read that Lynda's mum had been preparing funeral arrangements and I inadvertently identified the wrong field weighs heavy on my conscience."

The killer added that a field he has seen on Google Maps has "similar indicators" to that which led him to believe police were searching the correct area initially.

He says he remebers these from when her body was buried, and is "convinced" he knows where her remains are.

His letter concluded: "I hope that when Police Scotland examine this second field that they are successful in returning Lynda's remains to her mother.

"I did not set out to do this, but I did, and I did it alone, and presented Phil Wade with a dead body.

"Recently I have apologised to him. Understandably it was not acceped, as I'm sure also any apology to Lynda's mum would be met with a similar response."

Detective Superintendent Suzanne Chow, of Police Scotland's major investigations team, who worked on the search near Dunoon, says police are aware of the new information, and that it has been investigated.

They say it has not led to the identification of a new area to search, and that Lynda's family have been made aware.

Ms Chow said: “Information received was thoroughly investigated, however it has not led to any new location to search or any new evidence.

“Lynda’s family have been informed of this development and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.

“I would ask anyone with information about Lynda's remains to please come forward and speak to officers. 

"All information will be assessed and investigated.”