DESPITE having continually declined to reveal where he disposed of the body of his 15-year-old niece, convicted killer Stuart Campbell from Grays is once again due to be considered for parole.

Campbell, 66, was jailed for life in December 2002 for the kidnap and murder of his niece Danielle Jones, from East Tilbury, and told he would serve at least 20 years.

Campbell had his most recent bid for freedom rejected in January 2023.

Now the Parole Board has confirmed it is to consider his possible release again.

A spokesperson for the Board said a panel would "carefully examine a huge range of evidence" in due course, but has not said when the hearing will be.

Danielle's mother, Linda Jones, said she did not want Campbell to be released from prison if he does not reveal where her body is.

In 2021 Nub News reported on how Campbell's brother had backed the call to keep him imprisoned until he says what he did with Danielle.

"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," the spokesperson said.

And added: "Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead-up to an oral 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."

In 2017, police dug up garages near where Danielle's uncle once lived in Stifford Clays, believing her body may have been buried there. But despite a five-day search, no trace of her was found.

Danielle left home in East Tilbury on June 18, 2001, to catch a bus to St Clere's School. She left around lunchtime and was never seen again. Danielle's disappearance led to a search of more than 1,500 locations.

Campbell, then a builder, was convicted after Chelmsford Crown Court was told lured her into his blue transit van and abducted her.

The killer, who had married into the Jones family, had groomed Danielle for months. He also hid a violent criminal past.

At 18, he was jailed for four years for robbing a teenage girl. Campbell also had a 1989 conviction for holding a 14-year-old girl at his home.

Campbell was arrested within weeks and found guilty at trial after a pair of white stockings with Danielle's DNA on them were discovered at his home.

He was also found to have faked texts from Danielle and lied about where he was at the time of the murder.