A child killer who was jailed for life for murdering a schoolboy 50 years ago has died in prison of old age, it has emerged. 

Brian Field, 87, from Solihull, was jailed for life in 2001 after admitting the 1968 murder of 14-year-old Rory Tutill.

Rory was abducted, raped and strangled in 1968 as he hitch-hiked home from school. His murder remained unsolved until DNA evidence connected Field to the case 33 years later. 

Field was pronounced dead at HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire in February, the Ministry of Justice confirmed to BBC today. 

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will carry out an investigation into Field's death, as is standard procedure for all deaths in custody. MailOnline has approached the department for comment. 

Brian Field, 87, (pictured) was pronounced HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire, the Ministry of Justice confirmed

Rory Tutill, 14, (pictured) was abducted, raped and strangled in 1968 as he hitch-hiked home from school so he could save his bus fare towards a new bicycle

Investigators search the undergrowth on an estate in Surrey after the body of 14-year-old Rory Tutill was found there in 1968

The Kingston Grammar School pupil, known to his friends as Tutts, went missing after leaving the school on April 23, 1968 at 3.30pm.

Rory boarded a bus with friends for the start of his 15-mile journey home - but hitch-hiked after a few miles as he was saving towards a new bicycle.

He was last seen trying to stop a car in Chessington, close to his home in the village of Brockham Green, near Dorking.

His body was discovered nearby in a copse at the entrance to the late press baron Lord Beaverbrook's estate at Mickleham, Surrey, three days later.

His clothing, including his red and grey striped school blazer, were found folded across his body. 

Police officers search the balcony flat in Solihull, West Midlands in February 2001 after Brian Field was arrested connection to the 1698 murder of Rory Tutill

Field was arrested at his home in Solihull, West Midlands, in February 2011 by detectives investigating the boy's murder

Field was not linked to Rory's case until 1999 when police stopped him for drink-driving and matched a DNA sample taken during the checkpoint to one collected during the investigation into the teen's murder.

After his arrest, Field confessed to killing Rory with a rope and keeping the body in the boot of his white Mini car before dumping it. 

He moved from Surrey shortly afterwards and travelled around Britain as a farm machine repair man.

Field, a loner with previous convictions for attacking boys, pleaded guilty to murder but not sexual assault before being jailed for life. 

Field (pictured circa 1967) was believed by detectives to have been one of Britain's most dangerous paedophiles. After his conviction, police looked at several unsolved child murder cases to see whether he was connected to them

Field was believed by detectives to have been one of Britain's most dangerous paedophiles. 

After his conviction, police looked at several unsolved child murder cases to see whether he was connected to them.

He was the main suspect in the disappearance of David Spencer, 13, and Patrick Warren, 11. The boys vanished on Boxing Day in 1996 while playing near their homes in Solihull.

Despite police launching two major investigations into their disappearance, the bodies of David and Patrick were never found.