The family of an executive serving a life sentence for strangling a beauty consultant who became known as the “beauty in the bath” believe that they have fresh evidence that could free him after ten years in jail.

John Taft admitted having sex with Cynthia Bolshaw, 50, but denied her murder. He was jailed for life in 1999 still professing his innocence.

Taft’s solicitor now claims that police forensic files that contain a crucial discovery have been unearthed.

Mrs Bolshaw was found face down and naked except for a necklace and earrings in a half-filled bath at her secluded bungalow in Heswall, Wirral, in October 1983.

Detectives believed that Mrs Bolshaw, a divorcée known to have had a number of lovers, had been entertaining one of them that Saturday night.

It was not until 16 years later that Merseyside Police were able to use advances in DNA technology to reopen the unsolved murder.

They warned the 200 men listed in Mrs Bolshaw’s diaries that they would be turning up on their doorsteps looking to match swabs with stains on the murdered woman’s negligee.

In November 1999 a jury at Liverpool Crown Court found that Taft, now 58, the newly married managing director of a double-glazing firm in Birkenhead, had strangled her after the couple had had sex. Taft was portrayed in court as a complex, arrogant man whose anger turned to uncontrollable violence when he did not get his way with women.

Mrs Bolshaw’s lovers included a captain in the Sultan of Oman’s army, an inspector in the Ugandan police, an oil-rig worker, a magician, a fraud squad officer and a customs official. She worked behind the Christian Dior counter at Browns of Chester department store.

For a decade Taft’s wife, Susan, has maintained her husband’s innocence on a website called Justice for John Taft. The couple had been married for a fortnight when officers arrived at their doorstep.

David Kirwan, Taft’s solicitor, now says that police forensic files into the murder, which had been thought lost at the time of the trial, have been found by the Forensic Science Service and handed over to the defence team.

Mr Kirwan said: “These documents, which have very recently been disclosed to us, have the potential to raise enormous questions about the conduct of the police investigation.

“Mr Taft has always maintained his innocence. In fact, he would have won his parole by now had it not been for the fact that he is determined to clear his name.”

Mr Kirwan said that the most crucial discovery in the recovered forensic files related to evidence about Mrs Bolshaw’s time of death. Taft’s trial was told that she died at 10.30pm, when he admitted that he was at his lover’s bungalow. Among the files, however, are suggestions by police experts that she may have died at about 4am the following day, long after Taft had left. Mr Kirwan said that he hoped to be able to seek leave to appeal against Taft’s conviction within months.

He said: “Fundamental mistakes were made both before and during the trial, which meant that a lot of vital evidence was simply not presented to the jury. Having reviewed the case, it is clear that the police, lawyers and forensic science teams were responsible for a catalogue of blunders which may have led to the conviction of an innocent man.”

Taft admitted at the trial that he embarked on an elaborate campaign to cover up his sexual relationship with the dead woman because, he said, he was overcome with panic. His former wife, Barbara Taft, revealed that he had urged her to provide a false alibi.

Times Recommends

• Queen uses Christmas speech to praise Forces
• Helmand Christmas — the briefest of respites
• Hard work — but the finest bacon