AN EX-WIFE of notorious serial killer Peter Tobin has said she is relieved at the news of his death.

The murderer, rapist and paedophile died in hospital on Saturday aged 76 after becoming unwell at HMP Edinburgh where he was serving three life sentences.

Detectives have long suspected Tobin, who lived in Brighton from 1969 to 1990, had more victims, but the killer refused to admit to any more murders despite officers questioning him on his deathbed.

Cathy Wilson, 52, told the Sunday Mirror: "He was a monster and there is a feeling of relief that he is now dead."

Ms Wilson, who reportedly met Tobin when she was 16 and is said to be his third wife, told the publication her late ex-husband enjoyed having power and control, and treated her like a slave.

While she is glad he is dead, Ms Wilson said: "Everyone knows there were other victims, and he could have made all the difference in the world to grieving families who still don't know for sure what happened to their loved ones."

Tobin was serving a life sentence for raping and murdering Polish student Angelika Kluk, 23, and hiding her body under the floor of a Glasgow church in 2006.

The killer was also serving life terms for the murders of 15-year-old schoolgirl Vicky Hamilton, of Redding, near Falkirk, in 1991, and 18-year-old Dinah McNicol the same year. Their bodies were found 17 years later, buried in the garden of his former home in Margate, Kent.

Police believe Tobin was responsible for the murders of other women because he had at least 40 aliases and 150 cars during his life.

Tobin is suspected to be linked to the disappearance of 18-year-old Louise Kay from Beachy Head in 1988. After telling a friend she was going to sleep in her car after an evening out, she was never seen again.

Detectives investigated whether Tobin was responsible for Louise’s disappearance but could never prove his involvement, although Detective Superintendant David Swindle of Strathclyde Police said in a 2018 documentary that he believes Tobin killed her.

He is also suspected of the murder of 22-year-old student Jessie Earl, who also disappeared from Eastbourne in 1980, with her remains discovered on Beachy Head nine years later. Jessie’s parents believe that Tobin is their daughter’s killer.

Detective Chief Superintendent Laura Thomson, head of major crime at Police Scotland, said the final attempts to encourage Tobin to "do the right thing and share any knowledge he may have which could assist the police were unsuccessful".

She added: "While we have no current lines of investigation into Peter Tobin, we welcome any information in relation to his activities."

Former Strathclyde Police detective David Swindle, who led the investigation into Tobin, said he had no doubts the serial killer murdered more people.

Speaking to the BBC, he described Tobin as "pure evil", adding: "This is a coward, who has taken his secrets to the grave."

The Sunday Mail previously reported Tobin had cancer and had fallen and broken his hip and was refusing food and medication.

Last month a photo was circulated of Tobin "chained to a hospital bed" in a hospital gown, appearing seriously ill.

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed officers attended the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at 6.04am following the death of a 76-year-old man, adding: "The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."

The Scottish Prison Service declined to comment.