Emma Caldwell's murderer makes bid to appeal against life sentence

Iain Packer was jailed for a minimum term of 36 years on February 28 after being found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of murdering the 27-year-old in 2005.

The 51-year-old, described as a “calculating sexual predator”, was also convicted of 33 charges against 22 women during a three-decade reign of physical and sexual violence between 1990 and 2016.

His long list of victims were 16 sex workers, females he lived with, guests at “adult parties” and his first target - a teenage girl he raped at her home.

Packer has now made a bid to challenge his conviction and the length of the sentence handed to him by Lord Beckett.

A Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service spokesperson confirmed today that an "intimation of intention to appeal" had been lodged on behalf of Packer.

Emma's mum Margaret Caldwell outside Glasgow High Court (Image: PA)Emma Caldwell (Image: Supplied)When sentencing Packer, Lord Beckett told him: "Whether [Ms Caldwell] had threatened to report you to the police, or whether you killed her whilst acting out some evil fantasy, you murdered her in circumstances which must have been truly terrifying.

"Alone with the man who had already indecently assaulted her, in the dark, deprived of her phone and miles from any prospect of help. You applied a ligature around her neck, perhaps to compel her to undress. You manually strangled her, using significant force.

"Having murdered her, your only thought was to avoid the consequences of your actions by disposing of her possessions. Had it not been for an unrelated bereavement, which led to a dog walker being in the area for a few weeks, Ms Caldwell’s body may have lain undiscovered for years."