Murderer is on the run after fleeing open prison
POLICE APPEAL AFTER MAN SERVING LIFE TERM DID NOT RETURN TO HMP SUDBURY AFTER A PERIOD OF LEAVE
THE aunt of a murdered man has said it is an “insult” that his killer is on the run from a prison near Ashbourne the second time he has fled jail.
Lee Nevins was jailed for life after murdering disabled Lee Jobling in a random, drug-fuelled attack at Mr Jobling’s home in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in April 2006.
But Nevins, 39, is now on the run after failing to return to HMP Sudbury on Tuesday, September 27. It is the second time that Nevins has absconded following his conviction in November 2006, and now Mr Jobling’s aunt has shared her anger.
Angela Knotts, who raised 20-yearold Mr Jobling after the sudden death of his mother, said Nevins had not accepted his actions.
The 63-year-old said: “It’s an insult to Lee. I just feel as if he’s done this awful crime and he’s not faced up to what he’s done and thinks he should be free. It’s just horrible because you can’t think of anything else.”
Mr Jobling was aged just six when his mum, Shirley, died from a sudden brain haemorrhage.
After moving to live with Angela, he then suffered a brain injury after falling from a bridge, spending two weeks in a coma. The accident left Lee with a limp and memory issues, but he battled on and was able to get his own flat not far from Angela’s home. On Saturday, April 8, 2006, he invited friends round for drinks, but word spread to a local pub.
After the pub closed, Nevins, then 23, and co-defendant Mark Lang, then 24, visited Mr Jobling’s home. After the gathering ended, they launched a prolonged and sadistic attack on Mr Jobling, who they had never even met before, repeatedly taunting him and punching and kicking him in the head.
Lee died after spending three weeks in hospital. In a two-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Nevins and Lang were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
This latest escape is not the first time Nevins, who was ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years behind bars, has absconded.
In 2008, he got away after being taken from Frankland Prison to Sunderland Royal Hospital after suffering a hand injury, with a subsequent investigation revealing a series of blunders.
A Prison Service investigation found clumsy prison guards failed to search the killer or even securely attach handcuffs or restraints. Nevins was also able to smuggle his address book and paper clips from his cell to help make his getaway. And bungled attempts to track him down meant he was free for nearly a week. Nevins’s bid for freedom was also aided by the fact he was allowed to visit Sunderland Royal Hospital in civilian clothing – not prison uniform.
Nevins was eventually arrested without a fight after he was found walking along the High Street in Tillicoultry, near Stirling, in Scotland, and he was then handed a 12-month concurrent sentence for escaping lawful custody.
But Angela has now said that this latest escape has brought her life to a standstill and that her family are in limbo as they wait for news. She said: “The police don’t know where he is, but they say he has associates in the Northumbria area.
“They are saying he’s worked hard so he’s in an open prison.
“But they know he’s an absconder. They are saying they are doing all they can to make sure he doesn’t get out of the country.
In a statement released on Thursday, September 29, Derbyshire police said: “[Nevins] is described as white, of slim build, and around 6ft with short blond hair and blue eyes.
“He has a tattoo of a Tasmanian Devil on his arm.”
Anyone who has seen Nevins or has information which may help officers locate him is asked to contact Derbyshire police on 101, in confidence and at any time, quoting reference 22*563940:
You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the Crimestoppers website.