Stuart Campbell, the man convicted of murdering his 15-year-old niece Danielle Jones in 2001, has had his case referred to the Parole Board for consideration of release. Campbell was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2002 with a minimum term of 20 years.
Danielle disappeared while walking to a bus stop in East Tilbury, Essex, on 18 June 2001. Her body has never been found. In 2019, Danielle's mother Linda Jones expressed her opposition to Campbell's release unless he reveals the location of her daughter's remains. She said, 'That's the one thing that still disturbs me quite a bit, not knowing where she is.'
Mrs Jones has voiced support for Helen's Law, named after murdered Helen McCourt, which aims to prevent parole for killers who refuse to disclose the whereabouts of their victim's body. The Parole Board confirmed that Campbell's case has been referred, but no hearing date has been set, and it is unlikely to take place before next year.
A Parole Board spokeswoman stated that decisions are based solely on the risk a prisoner poses to the public and whether that risk can be managed in the community. Panels examine evidence including the original crime, behaviour changes, and the impact on victims. She added, 'Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.'
In 2017, Essex Police conducted excavations at garages near Campbell's former residence in search of Danielle's body but were unsuccessful. The force acknowledged the ongoing pain for the family, stating, 'Sadly we have been unable to end the pain Danielle's family have continued to experience.'
