A CONVICTED murdered has appeared in court accused of assaulting two prison guards.

Alan Edwards was last month given a life sentence for the murder of Darwen woman Susan Waring, who was last seen in January 2019.

The 48-year-old appeared over a video link into Preston Crown Court (Sessions House), this morning, where he entered not-guilty pleas to two counts of assault on an emergency worker.

However the court heard how it would not be in the public interest to pursue the case given the fact Edwards has just started serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 27 years.

His Honour Judge Graham Knowles QC was told no evidence would be offered by the prosecution and the case was dismissed.

The alleged incident was said to have occurred on May 5 and involved Edwards assaulting prison officers David Whitley and Derek Hesketh and HMP Preston, where he was remanded into custody while awaiting trial.

During the trial, the jury were told how sick bully Edwards had once set a ferret on a woman as a form of torture. He was found guilty of the murder of Susan Waring and a catalogue of vile offences against several other women.

Evidence used in the trial revealed how splatters of Susan’s blood were found on a Halloween mask which detectives believe was worn by Edwards as he attacked her.

Opening the case in January, prosecutor Christopher Tehrani QC said Edwards was arrested in March 2019 and a subsequent thorough forensic examination of his address in Blackburn Road, Darwen, found blood on the walls and in the redecorated lounge.

Edwards, claimed he last saw Susan Waring as she kissed him goodbye and walked out of his flat in Darwen, Lancashire, on January 30 2019.

But the prosecution said he was a “violent bully” who killed the 45-year-old and then disposed of her body.

Miss Waring’s mother reported her missing several days later but, despite extensive police inquiries, her whereabouts are unknown and there is no evidence to say she is alive.

Jurors took less than 90 minutes to reach a unanimous guilty verdict of murder.

Since he was sentenced, Susan Waring's family have pleaded with Edwards to reveal the location of her body. Recently, a fundraiser page was set up, and it is hoped donations will help to facilitate the erection of a memorial in her honour.