VICTOR MILLER'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN WOLVERHAMPTON AND WORCESTERSHIRE

Victor Miller, a man with a disturbing criminal history, was involved in a series of heinous acts that shocked the communities of Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas. Miller, who had previously served a seven-year prison sentence in 1980 for kidnapping a 13-year-old boy, continued to exhibit dangerous behavior that culminated in the brutal murder of a 14-year-old boy named Stuart Gough.

In 1988, following a heated argument with his gay lover, Victor Miller embarked on a violent spree that would leave a lasting scar on the local community. The confrontation appeared to have triggered his violent tendencies, leading him to commit the murder of Stuart Gough. The young victim was killed with a rock and his body was subsequently concealed beneath a pile of leaves, indicating a calculated attempt to hide the crime. The circumstances surrounding Miller’s relationship with his flatmate remain unclear, but it is known that Trevor Peacher, who was also a convicted child molester, was living with Miller in a maisonette in Pennfields, Wolverhampton, where they had resided for two years.

The police investigation into Miller’s activities was complex and involved a series of events that ultimately led to his arrest. One of the key moments was an attempted abduction of an 18-year-old cyclist, Richard Holden, the day before the murder. Holden managed to fend off Miller, who had threatened him with a knife, partially stripped him, and held the weapon to his throat. Holden’s quick thinking and resistance allowed him to escape, providing crucial evidence against Miller.

Further suspicion was raised when Miller was seen driving a silver Datsun Sunny and asking for directions to Birmingham. Witnesses noted that he kept circling the same area multiple times, which prompted a bystander, Anthony Dingley, to become suspicious and hide from Miller. The following day, Miller attacked a 25-year-old woman walking her dog in Hagley, adding to the pattern of violent behavior.

It was the sequence of these events that enabled law enforcement to focus their investigation on Victor Miller. Despite his flatmate Trevor Peacher providing an alibi, Miller eventually confessed to the murder of Stuart Gough. He led police to a drainage culvert near Bromsberrow, close to Ledbury and the M50 motorway, where the partially clothed body of the young victim was discovered.

At 51 years old, Victor Miller was identified as a predator responsible for the abduction, sexual assault, and brutal killing of Stuart Gough. His criminal record and confessions revealed that he was linked to nearly 30 unsolved sexual assaults, highlighting the extent of his predatory behavior. Miller’s arrest and subsequent confession marked a significant breakthrough in the case.

During his trial, Miller openly admitted to the murder and expressed a desire for the maximum sentence available. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, a term that was later reactivated following a 2002 ruling by law lords, making him eligible for parole in 2013. However, Miller explicitly requested that the Home Office not consider his release, stating his wish to spend the rest of his life incarcerated. He expressed a desire to die in prison, and the trial judge voiced concerns about whether it would ever be safe to release him back into society, given his history and the nature of his crimes.