East Tilbury Danielle Jones killer in fresh bid for freedom

Stuart Campbell, 64, is serving a life sentence for the murder of teenager Danielle Jones in 2001 but despite the desperate pleas of the girl’s family he refuses to reveal what happened to the teenager.

Danielle was last seen on June 18, 2001, at around 8am, when she left her home in East Tilbury, to catch the bus to school.

Campbell was jailed for life in December 2002 for her kidnap and murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Jailed - Stuart Campbell (Image: PA)

However, he continues to refuse to reveal the location of Danielle’s body to this day, despite desperate pleas from her family.

The Parole Board confirmed yesterday it is to consider whether Campbell can be released from prison.

Linda Jones, the mother of Danielle, previously said Campbell “should remain in prison until he revealed where her body is”.

It comes two years after his latest appeal for parole was rejected at the first stage when the panel concluded he did not reach the threshold for a full parole hearing and he is still too dangerous to be released.

When he was jailed, Campbell, a builder and father-of-two, was told he would serve at least 20 years in prison for murder.

Back in 2019, Danielle’s mother, Linda, said she backs Helen’s Law, named after murdered Helen McCourt, which aims to prevent parole for killers who refuse to reveal the location of their victim’s body.

Victim - Danielle Jones (Image: PA)

Mrs Jones told the BBC: “It is up to him really, a big part of us thinks we will never know.

“But Helen’s Law gives us a chance, possibly. Knowing the sort of character he is, a big part of me realised he wouldn’t, but it is like dangling a carrot.

“That’s the one thing that still disturbs me quite a bit, not knowing where she is. I may never know where my daughter is.”

In 2017, officers from Essex Police dug up some garages near the home where Danielle’s killer once lived, believing her body may have been buried there.

But after a five-day search, no trace of her was found.

A spokesman for the Parole Board said: “We can confirm the parole review of Stuart Campbell has been referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice and is following standard processes.

“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.

“A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

“Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.

“Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.

“It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.

“Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”