A MURDERER 'dismembered' his victim and scattered his body parts in Cumbria, police said.

William Wilkinson, 65, of Seafield Road in Blackpool, pleaded guilty to murder at Preston Crown Court today.

Edward Forrester, who went by Eddie, was reported missing on September 2.

Extensive inquiries involving specialist search teams, uniformed officers, detectives, search dogs and colleagues from Cumbria Police were launched at multiple locations.

Partial human remains of his body were found on land off Ashes Lane, Staveley, on September 13 this year.

The Mail: The police cordonThe police cordon (Image: Newsquest)

The defendant also admitted to perverting the course of justice.

He was remanded into custody and is due to be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on January 19 next year. 

DCI Mark Haworth-Oates, from Lancashire Police's force major investigation team, said: “William Wilkinson's plea today is in the face of overwhelming evidence against him.

The Mail: William WilkinsonWilliam Wilkinson (Image: Lancashire Police)

"Thankfully, his plea will spare Edward Forrester’s family and friends the ordeal of sitting through a trial and listening to the graphic details of how Edward was murdered, and in particular the way in which his body was then dismembered and deposited throughout the Blackpool and Kendal area.

"I hope the guilty plea brings them some small comfort and they will look forward to the case being concluded at sentencing.”