Bristol murderer John Cannan dies in jail aged 70

A notorious killer and violent sex offender from Bristol who raped and murdered Bristol newlywed Shirley Banks has died in prison at the age of 70. John Cannan was also linked to the infamous case of missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh whose body has never been found.

Cannan was serving a life sentence for the abduction and murder of Shirley Banks in Bristol when he was named as the prime suspect in the disappearance of 25-year-old Suzy Lamplugh, from London. It is thought the former car salesman may have been responsible for further deaths.

The Prison Service confirmed Cannan's death at HMP Full Sutton, with a spokesperson stating: "HMP Full Sutton prisoner John Cannan died on 6 November. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate."

Cannan was jailed for a minimum of 35 years in 1989 for the rape and murder of Clifton resident Shirley Banks, along with a further sexual offence, an attempted kidnapping and two offences of abduction with intent to engage in unlawful sexual intercourse.

Cannan was also convicted of the the attempted kidnapping of Julia Holman in October 1987, the rape of a woman in Reading, Berkshire, in 1986, as well as the rape of his girlfriend in December 1980 and several other abductions, attempted abductions and sexual offences.

He became eligible for parole last year and at his first parole hearing in September 2023, a panel heard that he insisted that he was innocent.

It was told he had not engaged in any accredited programmes while in jail to address the risk of reoffending, and that, at the time of his crimes, Cannan thought he was entitled to sex whenever he wanted it, preferred it to include violence and wanted power and control over women. It was decided at the time that his release would not be safe for the public.

One of the mysteries surrounding Cannan is the suspected murder of Suzy Lamplugh. Miss Lamplugh was declared dead, presumed murdered, after going missing at the age of 25, having left her west London offices to meet a mystery client known only as Mr Kipper.

Suzy had an appointment to show a house to 'Mr Kipper' on Shorrolds Road, in Fulham. When she didn't return to work, her colleagues contacted her family.

The police searched the property that she was supposed to be showing, then her own address, initially holding her father back as they feared they may make a gruesome discovery.

Later that night, her white Ford Fiesta was found a mile away outside a different house that was also up for sale. The car keys were missing, her purse had been left in the side door, the driver's door was unlocked but the passenger's side was locked, and bizarrely, the handbrake was down.

Three days before the last sighting of Suzy, Cannan was released from Wormwood Scrubs Prison after serving a six-year sentence for rape. It emerged he was nicknamed 'Kipper' by people at a bail hostel where he lived at the time. He has always denied any involvement in her disappearance and there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

Last year, Scotland Yard detectives launched a forensic review of the case. Detective Chief Inspector Teresa Foster issued a new appeal for information, saying "it is not too late" to come forward with information.

Over two decades later, in December 2023, from his top security prison, Cannan, then 69, wrote to the Mirror insisting he did not kill Suzy and accused police of prejudice against him. He said detectives on the case had pointed the finger at him in order to "divert public attention away from themselves".