Statement from GMP regarding Jackie Powell/Ian Brady

Martin Bottomley, Head of Investigative Review of Greater Manchester Police's Major and Cold Case Crime Unit, said: "As soon as we were made aware of the existence of this alleged letter, we made exhaustive attempts to obtain it to establish whether or not its contents would assist us in finding Keith's body.

"That resulted in the warrants we carried out in the South Wales area and at Ashworth Hospital in August 2012.

"However, despite seizing numerous documents and a search of Brady's cell, no such letter has been recovered. That in itself does not prove or disprove the letter's existence - it might have been destroyed, it might be hidden elsewhere, it may be in someone else's possession, or it may simply never have existed in the first place and this has been yet more mindgames by Brady.

"What I can say for certain is that we have not recovered the letter itself nor any credible information that would help us find Keith.

"As a result, we have liaised with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who have concluded there is no realistic prospect of any criminal conviction and therefore no further action will be taken against the woman we arrested.

"I do want to make this point however: this whole episode about the letter came at a time when Winnie was sadly in her final days. Winnie and the rest of her family have suffered unimaginable torment. Keith still has surviving relatives deserve to know the truth and Greater Manchester Police will continue to act on any credible evidence to bring this torment to an end."