An editor who unmasked a murderer as a “forgotten suspect” has slammed police who breached his rights while investigating the story.

Former Sunday Mail and Sunday Post editor Jim Wilson, left, has spoken out after Emma Caldwell’s killer Iain Packer was finally brought to justice after nearly 20 years.

Packer was jailed for life on Wednesday for the 2005 murder, as well as for 11 rapes and 21 other offences including sexual assaults and abduction.

In 2015, Jim and Brendan McGinty, his colleague at the Glasgow-based Mail, wrote a series of stories revealing the existence of Packer as a forgotten suspect in the then-decade-long investigation into Ms Caldwell’s death.

In response, Police Scotland’s Counter Corruption Unit was ordered to launch an investigation to identify any former and senior officers involved in passing information to the journalists.

As reported by HTFP two years ago, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal ruled officers had breached Jim’s rights by investigating his suspected sources.

Speaking to the Daily Record after Packer’s sentencing, Jim said the case was characterised by “official concealment, delay and denial”, which allowed Packer to “terrorise” other women.

He added: “Iain Packer will finally pay for his crimes but police and prosecutors who allowed him to remain free for almost 20 years must also be held to account.

“Police Scotland and the Crown Office did nothing because it was professionally embarrassing to admit mistakes and put them right.”

“A killer was concealed because the ­authorities did not want to explain a murder investigation that lasted two-and-a-half years, cost £4million, targeted the wrong men and left the prime suspect free to commit more crimes and inflict more grief and misery.

“The decision to investigate our sources instead of reopening the inquiry was appalling but only one example of the official concealment, delay and denial that has ­characterised this scandal.

“Scotland’s justice system failed Emma Caldwell, her family and all the women terrorised by Packer in the years he was allowed to remain free. His conviction has answered one question but Police Scotland and the Crown Office must answer many more.”

The Crown Office and ­Procurator Fiscal Service told the Record: “The Lord Advocate has offered to meet with Emma’s mother Margaret to answer any questions she may have and discuss the investigation and criminal proceedings.

“We understand the impact of the time taken in securing justice for all those who have suffered because of Iain ­Packer’s actions.”

Police Scotland has apologised for its failings in the original investigation, which focused on four Turkish men arrested in 2007 after a two-year surveillance operation, but the case against them collapsed.

Assistant Chief Constable Bex Smith said: “Emma Caldwell, her family and many other victims were let down by policing in 2005. We are sorry.”