THEORIES linking murdered North-East woman Vicky Glass with “crossbow cannibal” killer Stephen Griffiths have been dismissed.

The 21-year-old’s stepfather has rubbished the connection, saying he firmly believes the killer had local knowledge of the area.

And Cleveland Police have confirmed there is nothing to connect the case with Griffiths, who started his killing spree in 2009 and murdered three sex workers in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Vicky, who had slipped into heroin addiction, was working as a prostitute in the Middlesbrough area when she disappeared in September 2000.

Her naked body was found dumped on bleak moorland near Danby, North Yorkshire, several weeks later.

Colin Goodall, who is married to Vicky’s mother, Deborah, of Stockton, said: “I believe the killer lives in Middlesbrough and is walking about there to this day.

“I believe there are people on Teesside who know who he is and we are all hoping they will eventually come forward.

“He has had ten Christmases of freedom since Vicky died – we have had ten Christmases of torment.”

After Vicky’s body was discovered, police launched a manhunt appealing for friends and clients to come forward with information.

Detectives know she was dropped off by a taxi outside the Shipmate pub, in Union Street, Middlesbrough, at about 4am on Sunday, September 24. Her naked body was discovered several weeks later on an isolated track on the North York Moors, near Danby.

Her family believe someone has vital information that will enable detectives to piece together her final hours.

Police investigated potential links between her death and Griffiths after he was convicted last month of killing the three sex workers and boasted he had more victims.

Griffiths was given a full life sentence after admitting he murdered 36-year-old Suzanne Blamires, Shelley Armitage, 31, and 43-year-old Susan Rushworth.

Mr Goodall said: “We still don’t know how she was killed, so linking her death to the crossbow killer is something we cannot really comment on.

“As I said, I think her killer is still in Middlesbrough.”

Anyone with information relating to the murder of Vicky Glass is urged to call Cleveland Police on 01642-301615.