A 50-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the sexual assault and murder of Stuart Lubbock in a breakthrough in the hight profile case. 

Lubbock was found dead in the TV presenter Michael Barrymore’s pool 20 years ago this month following a party at his house. No-one has ever been charged for the murder.

A post mortem of Lubbock’s body found that he had suffered ‘horrific’ injuries consistent with a rape. He was also said to have had alcohol, ecstasy and cocaine in his bloodstream.

In 2007, Barrymore and two others were arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and murder but were released without charge. Barrymore has always denied involvement in the death saying last year “I have had nothing to do with this whatsoever and yet I keep getting bashed and bullied by the media.”

Lubbock’s father 76-year-old Terry has worked tirelessly to achieve justice for his son and said this today “Of course I’m happy. Of course this is good news. But it’s been 20 years. This has nearly killed me.”

A documentary, Barrymore: The Body In The Pool was released on Channel 4 last year and has been credited with aiding the investigation.