Suzy Lamplugh's heartbroken brother makes new demands after sister's suspected killer dies

John Cannan, 70, died in prison this week where he was serving a life sentence for murder. Scotland Yard named the sexual predator in 2002 as the prime suspect in the 1986 disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh

The tortured brother of missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh today demanded a review of prime suspect John Cannan's prison cell writings - in the hope they could solve her murder.

Richard Lamplugh begged detectives to scour documents - including novels written by the convicted killer - which could hold clues to his sister's disappearance.

Cannan, 70, died in prison this week where he was serving a life sentence for murder. Scotland Yard named the sexual predator in 2002 as the prime suspect in the 1986 disappearance of Suzy, 25.

However he was never charged - and her body has never been found - making the case one of Britain's most notorious unsolved crimes.

In August the Mirror revealed Cannan had been denied parole after it emerged he had written novels in HMP Full Sutton, near Pocklington, East Yorks.

According to official documents, the musings contained "scenes of sexual violence including rape" and also "characters [who] displayed a dismissive attitude towards women".

Now Richard, 64, has refused to give up hope of solving Suzy's murder and demanded that an ongoing police review of the case continues. He told the Mirror: "It appears he used his own experiences to write novels. We have always known that he was very controlling with information, he loved to play games and withhold clues.

"So if someone is able to gain access to his novels and any of his writings, then they may have information that pertains to our case.

"I could never read them, but if some brave person could look at them then they might hold vital clues."

Cannan was handed a whole-life tariff, later reduced to a 35-year minimum, for murdering Shirley in Bristol in October 1987.

She was abducted and held at his flat before Cannan killed her by hitting her head with a rock. He dumped her naked body at Dead Woman's Ditch in Somerset.

He was also convicted of the attempted kidnap of Julia Holman and the rape of a woman in Reading, Berks, a year earlier. In 2002, he was named as the prime suspect in the 1986 murder of Suzy but he has always maintained his innocence.

Suzy went missing after going to meet "Mr Kipper", according to her diary, to show him around a house in Fulham, West London. Cannan was nicknamed "Kipper" by people at a bail hostel where he lived but police did not have sufficient evidence to prosecute him.

He has always denied any involvement in Suzy's disappearance. Last year it emerged he had a terminal illness and on Tuesday the Prison Service confirmed he had died behind bars.

Richard said: "I feel nothing for Cannan, I have no feelings for him at all. As far as I'm concerned, all the evidence suggests that he did it, the fingers are all pointing at him.

"It would have been good just to have given some clue as to what he did with my sister's body, to just have some closure. It's never going to bring my sister back, I know that, it's just one of those things.

"But it would have been nice to have a grave where we could have mourned her. We probably would have scattered her ashes had we finally found out what happened to her body. But we don't have that and it's very upsetting. We don't know, maybe he may have left some note, or some clue about what he did.

"At the moment we're not aware of anything, but I would ask anyone representing him, or who knew him, to help us if they can.

"I know there is an ongoing police review, it would be great to get this case solved. So if anyone knows anything they should come forward.

"Cannan is dead and his family was not supportive of him, so there's no reason to keep it a secret anymore. If they had anything or knew anything, then it would be helpful. Cannan was really the lynch-pin to the whole investigation."

Last year Cannan wrote to the Mirror insisting he did not kill Suzy and accusing police of prejudice against him.

He claimed to have an alibi for the day Suzy, 25, went missing in 1986, and said detectives on the case had pointed the finger at him in order to "divert public attention away from themselves".

But in August it emerged that parole chiefs had blocked his move to an open prison. Richard said: "I'm so pleased that he did not get out and he wasn't able to hurt or kill anyone else. That's the only comfort I find in his death.

"He was in prison so he was not able to kill, harass or harm any other women. We knew he was terminally ill, we were told around a year ago. We have not had closure or justice, we would have loved that. I don't know if I feel angry towards him, but I just feel anger for the family of Shirley Banks. He got his just desserts and he died in prison, I'm really pleased he wasn't released, for them."

Suzy's parents died before finding out what happened to their daughter. Diana Lamplugh was diagnosed with dementia in 2003 and died in 2011.

Suzy's father Paul, a retired solicitor, died in 2018. The couple had set up the Suzy Lamplugh Trust four months after she disappeared to support victims of stalking and protect women from violence.

Richard said: "My parents died never knowing what happened to their daughter. But we have the Suzy Lamplugh Trust which is an incredible legacy.

"I always say that I wish it didn't have to be in existence, but it is and it does excellent work.

"It's heartbreaking that my mum and dad didn't find out what happened to Suzy. But Cannan would never give up any clues and he took them to his grave."