Detectives across the country are to investigate whether a killer who bludgeoned a woman to death in Lancashire more than 35 years ago had committed other unsolved serious crimes.

Christopher Smith remained at large over the murder of Joan Harrison, 26, in Preston until the day he died of cancer aged 60 in 2008.

Six days beforehand a swab of his DNA was taken when he was breathalysed for drink-driving.

It was his first appearance on the national DNA database after staying out of trouble for 18 years, but he was eventually connected to evidence collected at the scene of the mother-of-two's death, which at one stage was linked to Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe.

Lancashire Constabulary said grandfather Smith, of Leeds, would have been charged with murder if he was still alive and they would have expected a conviction.

A three-page note from Smith - penned the day before he died - in which he seemingly confessed was found at his home and stated, "I can't go on with the guilt."

Now his details are being circulated to several forces throughout the UK where it is known Smith had lived, although he is not being linked with any outstanding cases in Lancashire.

Born Alexander Smyth in Derry, Northern Ireland, he is thought to have used at least 14 aliases including his final identity as he pursued his criminal career.

Detective Chief Superintendent Graham Gardner, head of crime for Lancashire Constabulary, said Smith mainly committed petty thefts from his late teens up until 1975 when Mrs Harrison was found battered and raped in a disused lock-up garage.

His offending then became more violent and sexual, and in 1981 he was jailed for two years and nine months for the attempted rape of a 17-year-old girl in the Manchester area.

Two years later he received a suspended sentence for the manslaughter of his first wife, Violet, after he was cleared of murder, arguing she fell on to a knife he held during a row.