Detectives from across the country have gathered in Sussex to decide their next move in the inquiry into serial killer Peter Tobin’s past.

The 63-year-old is serving three life sentences for murder and it is feared he may have been responsible for other deaths while living in Brighton in the 1970s and 1980s.

Police said yesterday they are sifting through hundreds of new pieces of information they have received since appealing last month for the public’s help in tracing his past.

Assistant Chief Constable Robin Merrett of Sussex Police is in charge of an investigation being run from an incident room in Strathclyde, Scotland, where Tobin also lived.

Officers are trying to fill the missing pieces of the timeline of Tobin’s life, including the years 1977, 1978, 1985 and 1986 when Tobin was known to have links to Sussex.

Despite being told he will die in jail, Tobin has not cooperated with police over whether he had killed before.

Police fear women’s watches and jewellery found in Tobin’s possession may be trophies from previous crimes.

He used several aliases throughout his life and at one stage was using 27 different mobile phone SIM cards.

Since 1969 he is known to have lived in Dyke Road, Regency Square, Grand Parade, Albourne Close, Eastern Street and Chadborn Close in Brighton and Station Road, Portslade.