THE lawyer who helped convict Bolton's "Coronation Street ripper" has retired after 30 years.

Peter Watson was the prosecution solicitor during the high-profile 1988 case of Andrew Longmire, from Bolton, who had attacked and raped nine woman across the country. He was given 11 life sentences.

But the time has come for the head of Bolton's Crown Prosecution Service to step down to spend more time with his family.

Now he is encouraging more young people to become lawyers.

Mr Watson believes the legal profession is just as rewarding today as it was when he first began in 1974.

The 56-year-old father-of-two from Sharples has urged young people to take up a career with the CPS.

He said: "I would recommend the CPS to any aspiring lawyer. I have always been very keen on encouraging young people and helping them begin their career in the legal profession. I have mentored many talented young solicitors and mature law students."

The former Bolton School student always wanted to become a lawyer.

He said: "I liked the theatre of court and always felt that I was playing my part to ensure that justice was done.

"I've always enjoyed the advocacy and pitting my wits against a defending solicitor. It's a very competitive environment in a court, which I thrived upon.

"The salary in 1974 was also very attractive, having just married my wife Mary and having our first child."

Mr Watson has experienced many changes since he first began his career - including the formation of the Crown Prosecution Service in 1986 and CPS solicitors working inside police stations. He has presided over hundreds of court cases and was a prosecuting solicitor in Wigan, Oldham, Rochdale and Bury before moving in 2000 to become head of the CPS for Bolton and Wigan.

He is also proud of the fact that he never had a day off during his career. Mr Watson said: "I have enjoyed my time at Bolton. This is my home town and I'm delighted to have worked at the CPS. I have seen many different sentencing options being used over the years.

"I will take away so many fond memories, including the good relations I built up with police, the judiciary, crucial witnesses who have come forward to give evidence and members of the public."

Mr Watson has now retired to spend more time with his wife, his two children, Nicola, aged 30, and Sarah, aged 28, and grandchildren Robert, aged two, and Alistair, aged one.

His successor has yet to be appointed by the CPS.