The lead detective investigating the murder of James Todd in Clayton-le-Moors said the case was among the most challenging he’d ever worked on.

Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter said difficulties arose after finding the young chef’s badly decomposed body.

His lover David Fielding, 25, was sentenced to life in prison at Preston Crown Court last week for murdering 27-year-old chef James.

The couple had lived together in a flat together on Rutland Close.

"Any murder is tragic," said DS Hunter. "It wasn’t difficult finding the person responsible – we soon identified David Fielding as the main suspect. But when you are examining a scene where a decomposed body has laid for the best part of three weeks or more, it becomes hard."

DS Hunter said although they soon arrested Fielding, bringing him to justice was hard because he soon fled Accrington.

"There was clear evidence that Fielding had attempted to clean up in an effort to cover his tracks but he failed miserably.

"The fact that Fielding chose to travel around the country following the murder brought with it its challenges.

"We dispatched officers to Kent and Birmingham.

"We had the underwater search unit search the Leeds Liverpool canal at Clayton, near the bridge, to look for a knife.

"We knew that on Sunday Fielding had walked along the canal. We didn’t find the knife, which made it hard as we didn’t have CCTV or witnesses to the incident.

"But we got him and justice has been done."

DS Hunter, who has 30 years police experience, said: "The scene was particularly harrowing.

"It took the scientific support department, Crime Scene Investigators and forensic scientists three days to complete the examination of the scene.

"They worked in terrible conditions for three days and praise must go to them.

"What was quite unforgivable was the fact that Fielding, having murdered his partner and prevented James’s family from having the dignity of identifying him and paying their final respects."

Summarising he added: "Nothing will ever bring James back and our thoughts today are with his family at this difficult time.

"I hope the fact that the person responsible for killing James has been brought to justice brings some closure to this part of the grieving process as they continue to come to terms with their loss.

"But there are so many victims in this case. Fielding has gone to jail for a long time – James’s family have lost him forever."