The lawyer who defended paedophile Russell Bishop during the Babes in the Wood trial has died, aged 64.

Bishop, who was cleared of murdering Karen Hadaway and Nichola Fellows in Wild Park, Brighton, in 1986, was one of several of the nation's most notorious criminals represented by Ralph Haeems.

Bishop, 38, was later jailed for life for the abduction, sexual assault and attempted murder of a seven-year-old girl in 1990.

Mr Haeems also represented Ronnie Biggs, who was involved in the Great Train Robbery, the Kray twins and homosexual serial killer Dennis Nilsen, who murdered about a dozen young men he lured back to his flat in Cricklewood, North London, in the early 1980s.

Mr Haeems was also involved in the case of David Martin, who was mistakenly shot by police during a chase in Park Lane, London, in 1983.

Formidable Mr Haeems, from Reigate, Surrey, was born in Bombay, India, and came to Britain when he was a young man.

He studied law, specialising in criminal law, wills and probate, and was admitted to the Law Society in 1972.

He soon acquired a formidable reputation as a defence solicitor, representing the defence in some of the most infamous cases of the 20th Century.

Wendy Eldershaw, chairman of the Reigate Business Guild, said: "Beneath his tough exterior - and I guess he had to be tough to do the job he did - lurked a heart brimming with kindness and generosity.

"His door was always open. If you had a problem, he would always be there for you.

"He was always supportive, had a wonderful sense of humour and will be warmly missed."

A barrister at the Tudor Street Chambers of Richard Ferguson, described Mr Haeems as "one of the best-known legal men around".

He added: "Our professional will be all the poorer without him."

The funeral of Mr Haeems, who ran a practice in Reigate, took place at Guildford Crematorium.

Mr Haeems, whose firm has several offices in London, is understood to have suffered ill-health from around the end of last year. He is survived by his wife, Angela, and children, Daniella, Michelle and David, all three of whom followed him into the legal profession.