A leading forensic scientist who helped convict some of Britain's most high profile murderers has spoken of her sadness that a Norfolk killing has not been solved.

Prof Patricia Wiltshire appeared on BBC Radio Four's Desert Island Discs and said the death of Michelle Bettles in 2002 was one of the crimes that had stayed with her.

The 22-year-old's body was found by a dog walker off the A47 in Scarning, near Dereham, on Easter Sunday of that year.

She had been strangled to death. 

Murder victim Michelle Bettles grave in Earlham Cemetery. Murder victim Michelle Bettles grave in Earlham Cemetery. (Image: Simon Finlay)

Michelle was the third Norwich prostitute killed whose case remains unsolved after Natalie Pearman in 1992 and Kellie Pratt in 2000.

Prof Wiltshire, a forensic ecologist and botanist, and an expert in the study of pollen, said: "When you think of that girl's misery and suffering.

"Poor Michelle did affect me.

"She had a drug habit. She was supporting a pimp. Those children that she did not want to give up."

Police set up a temporary unit in Dereham Road in Norwich as they spoke to the public following the murder of Michelle Bettles in 2002, whose last known address was in the areaPolice set up a temporary unit in Dereham Road in Norwich as they spoke to the public following the murder of Michelle Bettles in 2002, whose last known address was in the area (Image: Simon Finlay/Newsquest)

Prof Wiltshire said Ms Bettles' body was found in "very pretty woodland" but there was an "incredible" forensic profile of "somewhere else" - a place that "involved a pond and big honeysuckle".

READ MORE: Red light district murders and long road to catch Michelle’s killer

She said police had found a place with a "big pond" and a "huge honeysuckle" some miles away.

Prof Wiltshire said the pond had been dredged.

Michelle Bettles when she was 18 years oldMichelle Bettles when she was 18 years old (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

She added: "I think they {the killer] must have left her on the dredgings and then they had taken her off and dumped her."

READ MORE: Michelle Bettles’ parents - ‘Dig deeper into our girl’s murder’

Over the years, officers have questioned three suspects, but when their alibis checked out they were released.

The original inquiry also identified the DNA of an individual, but that line of enquiry ended with the person eliminated as a suspect.

Police also examined possible connections to Suffolk serial killer Steve Wright, who had run the Ferry Boat pub in Norwich's red light district, but did not actively link him.