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For almost three decades former Mikhail Popkov struck terror into his home city in Russia.

As a former police officer Popkov should have been one of he most upstanding citizens of Angarsk in Siberia.

Instead, he earned himself the moniker The Werewolf during his killing spree, which started back in 1992 and has made his Russia's 'worst ever serial killer'.

The serial killer has been convicted of the murders of 78 women and could be responsible for the deaths of more.

Before he butchered his victims, who were all women with the exception of one mae police officer, Popkov would rape them first.

He then used horrific make-shift weapons of knives, axes, baseball bats or screwdrivers to murder them.

(Image: The Siberian Times)

Popkov's chilling nickname emerged because his victims were so badly mutilated.

When he was convicted of a further 56 killings a Russian state prosecutor said: “He clearly loved killing. Some victims had 145, or even 170 knife wounds.

“He said that he felt satisfied when he felt their pain as they were stabbed."

Popkov started his murderous rampage in 1992, with the last murder believed to have been committed in 2010.

He was finally convicted of 22 murders in 2015 and locked up for life.

The serial killer was told he would spend the rest of his days in a harsh penal colony in Siberia.

(Image: DMITRY DMITRIYEV/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Following his first conviction Popkov then pleaded guilty to another 60 killings - but there was only enough evidence to convict him of 56.

He has even worked with police to identify several of the victims.

The respected police officer started his kiling spree when he became covinced his wife, Elena, was having an affair.

He would target sex workers or women who were drunk and "sentenced them to death" as soon as they agreed to have a drink with him.

Popkov claimed this proved they were immoral. Three women managed to escape his clutches because they refused to have a drink with him.

State prosecutor Alexander Shkinyov said at the time of Popkov's second conviction: "He escorted these women home and even helped some of them to carry their bags.

(Image: The Siberian Times)

"He said that he felt satisfied when he felt their pain as they were stabbed."

When he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in one of Russia's toughest maximum security jails Popkov showed no emotion.

However, when he was told he was told he was being stripped of his police rank, which would mean his wife would lose his £255 a month pension, Popkov was furious.

State prosecutor Alexander Shkinyov said: "He was calm when he heard the life sentence, but then got very upset about the rank and pension decision.

“Popkov thought that his co-operation with investigation should have earned him a better result from the court.

"He will be appealing this part of the sentence (to remove his pension)."

(Image: The Siberian Times)

The serial killer led a chilling double life - at home he was a loving husband and father and his family were unaware of his dark secret.

His daughter, Katya, a teacher, has struggled to believe her father committed the gruesome crimes.

She said: "Watch how a butcher works, he is covered in blood from head to toe. Did the women lay down meekly by themselves?

"I bet they would leave marks - bites or scratches. You cannot hide this. But my father did not have any suspicious marks on his body or face."

Popkov himself has admitted that he led a double life.

In a leaked statement he said: "In one life I was an ordinary person, I was in the service in the police, having positive feedback on my work.

(Image: The Siberian Times/Will Stewart)

"I had a family. My wife and daughter considered me a good husband and father, which corresponded to reality.

"In my other life I committed murders, which I carefully concealed from everyone, realising that this was a criminal offence.

"My wife and daughter never knew about the crimes I committed and did not even suspect this.”

Popkov went undetected for almost two decades, raiding the police supplies for murder weapons.

As an officer he knew exactly how to clean the crime scene to leave no trace - but Popkov did make one error.

Detectives realised there was a pattern to the killings with tracks from a Lada 4x4 - the off road vehicle used by law enforcement officers - at many of the crime scenes.

Some 3,500 police officers were DNA tested and Popkov was finally captured.