THE gruesome murder of a teenage girl over 50 years ago could finally be solved thanks to a clue overlooked by cops.
Jacqueline Johns’ naked body was discovered close to Battersea Power Station in southwest London in 1973 – but her killer has never been caught.
The 16-year-old’s shoes were left behind at the scene and criminologist David Wilson believes modern forensics could provide “opportunities that weren’t available at the time”.
He told The Sun: “It would be interesting to know if the family actually identified that they were her shoes or not.”
He said the fact the footwear was left but the rest of Jacqueline’s clothes were taken “could be significant”.
“It could be instrumental, which means they didn’t have time to take off her shoes, or it could be psychological in that the shoes were something that turned them on.
“They enjoyed viewing the body after the girl had been murdered with her shoes on.
He added: “It’s an era before CCTV and DNA but have her shoes been retained, there could be soil samples and so forth?
“I would have thought there are lines of enquiry that could be pursued that would help this poor family get justice for Jacqueline.
“She was found within 48 hours – this strikes me as something much more opportunistic and spontaneous, not planned – is there any forensic evidence on the body that was of use to the police?”
Jacqueline’s sister Susan Church previously said her and her siblings have had no contact with cops for more than 30 years.
The last public police appeal for information was made just months after her death – and the killer remains a mystery.
Mr Wilson said it is baffling that the Met Police haven’t reviewed the case more regularly.
“There didn’t seem to be that concerted effort,” he continued.
“Were there no posters of the woman who was seen talking to her? Was there no appeal done?
“Were her shoes kept and may they offer forensic opportunities that weren’t available at the time?”
He continued: “How was she strangled? From behind or from the front? Manually or with a ligature?
“These are the questions we need to ask. They are important details.
“An unsolved murder case is supposed to be reviewed regularly every two years. I would be encouraging her family to ask the Met Police when they are going to review the case.”
The Met confirmed to fellow criminologist Robert Giles last year that the case “remains unsolved” after he submitted a Freedom of Information request.
Insurance clerk Jacqueline had attended her work colleague Susan Baynes’ wedding party on the Essex Riviera on September 29 1973 – and after thanking the bride for a “lovely time” she headed for home in Thornton Heath, south London.
But the teen – later dubbed the Girl in the Yellow Dress – never made it.
Her body was stripped of the bright lemon-coloured dress and sheepskin coat she’d been wearing and was dumped in a railway siding.
The grim discovery at Spicers Wharf – on October 1 – was made by workmen just across the Thames from Victoria Station, where she was last seen alive by witnesses.
Jacqueline was raped and strangled. Apart from her yellow and blue shoes, her clothes were never recovered.
She’d missed the last train home from Victoria just before midnight, and a woman she was seen talking to on the platform has never been traced.
At the time, police suggested she walked across Chelsea Bridge, possibly trying to hitchhike home.
Her loved ones fear she may have been a victim of notorious serial killer Robert Black.
Susan, who lives in Heysham, Lancashire, previously said police did tell the family in the early 1990s that Black may have been involved – but have not been in touch since.
She said: “The police contacted us about Robert Black after they found some friendship bracelets.
“But I don’t think my mother knew if they were hers or not.”
Susan added that Black’s was the only name cops ever gave to them.
Black kept a bracelet in his flat which may have been a souvenir, a police source previously told the Daily Mail.
Jacqueline’s sister Annette Belcher said detectives had previously shown her a bracelet with coloured beads but she couldn’t be sure it was her late sibling’s.
Criminologist Robert Giles – the co-author of The Face of Evil: The True Story of Serial Killer Robert Black – said Black had discussed his desire to rape women with a fellow sex offender while in borstal in the late 1960s.
Robert Black, from Falkirk in Scotland, was in 1994 given 12 life sentences for murdering four girls aged between five and 11 in the 1980s.
He died aged 68 at Maghaberry prison in County Antrim in January 2016.
During the 1970s and 1980s he worked as a delivery driver, during which time he abducted and killed his victims.
He was eventually caught by police in 1990 with a barely alive six-year-old girl in the back of his van in Stow, Scotland.
Remarkably, she was found by her policeman dad.
Black was convicted of the murders of 11-year-old Susan Maxwell, from the Scottish Borders, five-year-old Caroline Hogg, from Edinburgh, and Sarah Harper, 10, from Morley, near Leeds, as well as a failed abduction bid in Nottingham in 1988.
In 2011, he was found guilty of the 1981 murder of nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy, from Ballinderry, County Antrim.
He died in prison, aged 68, in Northern Ireland in 2016.
However, Mr Wilson said he’s not so sure.
He explained: “In my opinion it definitely was not Robert Black. It just shows that probably lots of people tried to abduct young girls in our culture, but not all by Robert Balck.
“16 was too old for him. He tended to go for pre-pubescent girls. He would go for eight, nine, 10, even younger.
“Occasionally, there was an older one who was 13 or 14 but that was unusual for his pattern of offending.”
Mr Wilson went on to say: “He did live in London at the time but he was a delivery driver and he tended to abduct and kill girls outside of London.
“My sense is that Robert Black is a bogey man figure in our culture and people want to say it could have been him.
“From everything this does not strike me as the MO Robert Black would go on.”
In 1974, police said due to the location of Jacqueline’s body she may have been abducted by two men.
Speaking about that possibility two people were involved, Mr Wilson said: “It’s not uncommon.”
He continued: “The Railway Rapists, who went on to murder, worked as a pair, there’s often something called a folieadeux, which means ‘a madness shared by two’.
“There have been killer couples, it is something that’s not unheard of.
“It might very well have been two people but back in the 1970s what we’re really talking about is the generalised vulnerability of young women of that age.
“At 16 a lot of young women were already going to pubs, our culture was different, and indeed there are a number of unsolved cases from the 1970s.”
In terms of solving the cold case, he added: “There is hope here, this didn’t happen a century ago, in terms of the family trying to draw attention to the case.”
NOTTINGHAM Forest’s dream season continued as they snatched away the best home record in the Premier League with a clinical win at Brentford.
Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga scored the goals as Forest became the first side to not only take all three points at the Gtech Community Stadium, but also to silence a Brentford attack that had scored 26 goals in eight previous home games.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side and the Forest fans can tuck into their turkey dreaming of Champions League football next season if they can maintain this remarkable form.
Only Chelsea have picked up more points on their travels this season than Nunon’s men.
Forest travelled to west London having visited Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs on their previous three away days.
Given that Brentford had collected 22 points out of a possible 24, scoring 26 goals in eight home games so far this Premier League season, a date at the Gtech was an even more daunting task for Nuno’s men.
There were some worrying signs early on. With only four minutes gone, Yoane Wissa played in Mikkel Damsgaard only for the Dane to scuff his shot and see it pushed away by Forest keeper Matz Sels.
Brentford then forced a succession of corners. One of them came out to Bryan Mbeumo. His curling cross picked out Kristoffer Ajer whose header skimmed inches wide.
Yoane Wissa then took advantage of hesitation by Morato and Neco Williams to nip between the two Forest defenders and hook in a shot which landed on the roof of the net.
Having soaked up the Brentford, Forest carved out a chance of their own just after the half-hour.
Elliot Anderson combined with Williams before crossing for Chris Wood to head goalwards, being denied only by a plunging stop by Mark Flekken.
Williams was involved again when the visitors took a 38th-minute lead. He sprinted onto a Callum Hudson-Odoi pass, beat Ajer and pulled the ball back cross the Brentford area where Ola Aina was waiting to steer home his second goal of the season.
It was the fourth time this season that Brentford had gone behind at home. They won each of the previous three.
If that suggested a comeback by the home side, Forest clearly hadn’t read the script. After all, they had already won at Anfield and Old Trafford this season, and secured a draw at Stamford Bridge,
Nuno’s side have dispensed with their inferiority complex that marked their first two Premier League campaigns.
Within six minutes of the restart they doubled their lead. Keane Lewis-Potter, converted into a left-back in recent weeks by Brentford boss Thomas Frank, made a has of controlling a long punt forward. The ball bounced into the path of Anthony Elanga, who immediately drove infield found the far bottom corner with a curling shot.
The winger might have made it 3-0 three minutes later, but this time his shot was beaten away by Brentford keeper Flekken.
His opposite number Sels then produced one of the saves of the season as Brentford tried to respond, albeit that the Forest stopper used his head.
Mbeumo headed a cross into the path of Ajer whose shot was turned away at point-blank range by Sels’s head as he threw himself in the way of the ball.
For Brentford, the loss of their proud unbeaten home record this season compounded the disappointment felt by their tame Carabao Cup exit at Newcastle in midweek.
But the day belonged to Forest who will spend Christmas Day in the Champions League places.
FOR a long time it felt like Christmas shopping in Stratford would have been more fun than this.
It really was that bad at times.
But thankfully there are still a few showmen about and Mohammed Kudus is always happy to grab the limelight.
Not only with his equaliser, cancelling out Mats Wieffer’s first Brighton goal, but in his celebration too.
Everyone now knows to expect Kudus to find somewhere to perch and take a breather after scoring – but now he is bringing along his very own stool in the shape of an elephant.
Kudus’ goal ended a difficult week for Julen Lopetegui, who lost his father on Tuesday, with another result to ease the pressure.
None of it has been spectacular, but the Hammers are now unbeaten in three ahead of facing Southampton on Boxing Day.
The London Stadium has never been the most imposing of venues.
But there was a particular air of everyone wanting to be somewhere else across a desperate first half.
The opening 45 minutes was best summed up by Carlos Baleba kicking his own teammate, Jean Paul van Hecke, in the head and Pervis Estupinan falling on his backside when lining up a rare shot.
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Thankfully, things improved after the break.
That defensive stability, the only real positive from West Ham’s first half, vanished not long after the restart.
Hurzeler’s men found a way through, though Lopetegui will have plenty to say about it.
A quick Brighton corner was poorly cleared by Emerson Palmieri to Seagulls full-back Pervis Estupinian.
The Colombian lifted a dangerous cross to the far post, where Dunk met it with a header at the expense of Lukasz Fabianski.
Dunk’s barge sent the Pole tumbling, meaning he was helpless to stop as Wieffer finished low into an empty net from 13 yards.
If it had been a defender Dunk had challenged there would have been no issue, but given the protection goalkeepers usually have – it was surprising to see the goal stand.
The injustice at least brought West Ham to life.
They had not shown any intensity during the dreary first half, but finally had a bit of zip to their play – which sparked the opener.
Tomas Soucek pinged a sharp, first time ball into the feet of Jarrod Bowen.
The England man put the Brighton defence into reverse and found some space for a shot.
Bart Verbruggen managed a save but the rebound fell for Kudus to nod in before he sought out his bizarre stool for his trademark celebration.
There have been rumblings that the Ghana international, West Ham’s most valuable asset, could be sold in January to fund investment.
But that would be foolish.
The former Ajax man is one they look to in order to dig them from a hole in situations like this.
With no real system in place, Lucas Paqueta too often disinterested and no in form striker, it is usually down to Kudus or Bowen to make something happen.
Bowen cannot do it alone.
Crysencio Summerville, introduced as a sub, offers flashes but cannot yet be trusted to start.
Lopetegui hoped that Fullkrug’s first start for the club would boost the attacking options.
But the German offered next to nothing, losing the ball under little pressure and causing no issue for the Brighton defence.
Investment in that area is, as usual, a priority for West Ham in January.
Brighton, too, look like they need something to spark them back into life.
The Seagulls’ run without a win drags on. They continued to create openings but things are no longer falling for them as they did earlier this season.
Yasin Ayari twice drew good saves from Lukasz Fabianski, the second deep in stoppage time.
Yankuba Minteh raced down the right but saw his shot rattle the inside of the post before hitting Mitoma and bouncing away from goal while Evan Ferguson failed to connect with fine cross yards from goal.
They could not find any sort of momentum and needed Verbruggen to save sharply from Edson Alvarez late on to protect their record of having never lost at this stadium.
Both sides remain in somewhat of a muddle, both knowing they could be so much better.
NEIGHBOURS have expressed their fury over a newly converted holiday home, claiming naked guests roam freely and can be seen from all angles.
The controversial conversion at Penisarwaun, in Gwynedd, Wales, features a large gable end window overlooking a lane and nearby home.
It can be reached only by a narrow road and is advertised as a “haven of tranquillity” in the Welsh countryside.
But those living nearby have dubbed the development, which was built without planning permission, an “eyesore” – and insist they can see everything from the outside.
Janet Gayther, 82, whose home is overlooked by the giant window, says she frequently sees guests in the buff – and it’s making her life a “misery”.
“I’ve seen all sorts,” she told The Sun Online. “People coming out and getting in the hot tub without clothes.
“I’ve driven past in the car and visitors have been sprawled out in the nude on the sofa.
“They also climb in and out of the bath on the mezzanine floor.”
The great gran added: “There’s the noise when they are having fun and games in the hot tub, having a drink and playing loud music.
“It’s making my life a misery at times.
“I’ve been here more than 50 years and didn’t expect this. What has happened is wrong.”
The property is said to attract partying guests and lights from the building, it’s claimed, make it shine “like Blackpool illuminations.”
Neighbours say they’ve had visitors knocking on their door at 1 am trying to find it.
And just a few months ago police were called when a lost couple disturbed the peace with an angry bust-up – seemingly because they were unable to find the accommodation.
“People sometimes can’t find the place,” Iain Burden, 61, said.
“If I had a quid for every time I had to direct people, I would be a millionaire.”
Visitors have been accused of failing to recycle and leaving locals to pick up armfuls of rubbish.
Michael Sharp said people “behave really badly” and that it’s the luxury hot tub that seems to “provoke bad behaviour”.
“We can hear the noise inside the house, even with the doors closed,” the 72-year-old said.
“People are coming for a good time. We have had drones flying above our property.
“Some people are completely selfish and not community-minded.”
He added that he and his fellow neighbours have complained about the council planning department.
“It’s making the lives of locals a misery,” he said.
“At times we can’t go out in the garden because of the noise.”
The owners have applied for retrospective permission to convert the outbuilding into a holiday let – but councillors turned it down, against the advice of officials.
Gwynedd councillors were told it had been completed without planning consent.
Jean Williamson, 70, said she was “furious” about the situation and the council response had been “inadequate.”
She said: “We get hen parties and birthday parties.”
Linda Jeavons, 75, added: “The owners have come along and more or less ignored all the rules and regulations.
“This is a nice quiet residential area and they are turning it into something more commercial.
“The lane isn’t very accessible, and the property creates a lot of problems litter-wise.
“The window isn’t in keeping with the area.”
Another local man said there had been a “significant increase in traffic” along the narrow lane leading to the holiday property.
He asked: “Have the council got the money to fight it?”
A Cyngor Gwynedd spokesperson told The Sun: “At a meeting of the Gwynedd Planning Committee held on 9 December, a retrospective application to convert an outbuilding to holiday let at Plas Coch, Penisarwaun was refused due to the fact that the development is contrary to policy PCYFF 3 of the Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan 2011-2026.
“It was deemed the development would have an adverse effect on residential amenities and the gable windows would cause an over-looking and an intrusive effect on neighbouring properties.
“The Council’s Planning Service has written to the applicant to inform him of the committee’s decision and is investigating the matter further.”
The Sun has reached out to the holiday home’s business for comment.
AN ICONIC bakery chain famed for its cinnamon buns and sourdough loaves is set to open 40 new locations in the UK.
The beloved upmarket bakery has soared in popularity over the last few years – and currently has over 150 stores.
The new Gail’s sites will launch in 2025, CEO Tom Molnar hopes, upping the company’s targeted sales to £300 million.
It follows the launch of two new sites in London St Pancras and one in London Bridge station – the first Gail’s cafes to be introduced in train stations.
Before that, the chain opened its 150th store in Watford in October.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Tom credited the company’s rapid high street expansion to cheap real estate.
He said: “There are lots of empty sites on the high street.
“You get really attractive deals. That’s been really fundamental to us.”
However, Tom also admitted that he might have to put prices up on the already luxury coffees and baked goods.
This is due to a rise in employer national insurance contributions introduced in the latest Budget – and an increase in the minimum wage, he said.
Gail’s is renowned for its bread, which is baked at sites in Hendon, North London, Milton Keynes, St Albans, Manchester and Bath.
Its pastries are also a favourite among TikTok users, who frequently post eat-with-me videos featuring the snacks.
Several videos have gone viral recently showcasing the impressive array of Gail’s snacks that can be enjoyed when you order a Too Good To Go package.
However, the chain has not been without controversy – with hundreds signing a petition to block a new site in Walthamstow Village, amid fears that the neighbourhood was being “gentrified”.
The petition was created with a view to “protecting the unique identity of our community and safeguarding the soul of a beloved neighbourhood”.
Similarly, residents in Knutsford, Cheshire, where a Gail’s branch was due to open, told the Sun last year that the chain was “too expensive” and could drive out independent traders.
Nigel Cowl, 58, said: “I won’t go in there. I work at the Co-op and can pick up some cheaper bake-at-home things instead.
“To be honest, I prefer some jam or marmite on toast to a fancy croissant.”
He added: “I think the bakery will get a lot of customers because Knutsford has become so upmarket.
“But I don’t think it’s a good thing – it’s too expensive.”
By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter.
MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.
Some chains have not survived. Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
MATCHWEEK 17 is HERE and there are some blockbuster Premier League ties taking place this weekend.
In today’s early kick off, Manchester City suffered yet another defeat at the hands of Aston Villa which now means Pep’s side have one win in their last TWELVE matches!
In the 3pm games, Newcastle BATTERED Ipswich Town 4-0, West Ham and Brighton drew 1-1 and Nottingham Forest secured another excellent win – this time 2-0 at Brentford.
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal is the evening game – you can follow live coverage from Selhurst Park with our blog.
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Follow our live blog below…
ALEXANDER ISAK fired a stunning hat-trick as Newcastle gave sorry Ipswich a thumping.
The Swedish striker was at his clinical best to punish an appalling performance from Kieran McKenna’s men.
Winger Jacob Murphy had a field day at Portman Road.
Not only did he set up two of Isak’s goals — the first and third — but also aptly got in on the scoring act with a wonderful goal to put Newcastle 2-0 up.
Isak has now fired 11 goals this season and six in his last five.
But Newcastle will not have many easier afternoons than this.
Ipswich are still searching for their first Premier League win at home since 2002 after nine attempts this season.
They could not have not got off to a worse start going behind after TWENTY-SIX seconds! Well, a bit longer because of VAR!
Fabian Schar played a peach of a long pass forward to Murphy racing down the right.
He supplied a superb cross which Sam Morsy could only clear as far as Isak who slammed home.
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Assistant Natalie Aspinall did not raise her flag until the goal was scored — adjudging Murphy was offside.
But after more than two minutes of checking, VAR reversed the decision and ruled the Toon star onside.
And finally the Newcastle players and fans were able to celebrate.
The Toon have not lost a game this season after taking the lead while Ipswich have not won after conceding first.
Newcastle should have doubled their lead when Murphy supplied another wonderful cross but Anthony Gordon’s downward header from six yards bounced over the bar under pressure from Morsy.
The Geordies were really enjoying themselves and Murphy had a pot shot from 25 yards that flashed wide of the left post.
But Ipswich did start to get some ball in and around the Toon box.
Jens Cajuste fired a shot over from the edge of the box and Sam Szmodics was played in by Conor Chaplin but keeper Martin Dubravka was quick to deny him from close range
Morsy brilliantly blocked Murphy as he was about to pull the trigger inside the Ipswich box.
Isak then was one-on-one with Arijanet Muric but the Ipswich keeper saved his effort from 12 yards.
Newcastle deservedly went 2-0 up through Murphy.
The Toon star brilliantly fired past Muric off the underside of the bar from just inside the box after being teed up by Gordon following some good play around the penalty area.
Isak had another sighter after being played in by Gordon but his curling effort lacked enough power to trouble Muric from 15 yards.
Newcastle were handed a third on a plate.
The ball was played out of the back by keeper Muric but Cajuste did not deal with it.
Bruno Guimaroes pounced, played the ball forward to Isak to slot home.
McKenna made a half-time change — bringing on Ali Al-Hamadi for Omari Hutchinson.
But Newcastle were denied a fourth by the woodwork.
Guimaroes thumped a header from a Lewis Hall cross that bounced off the base of the right post.
But they duly got it moments later when Murphy showed great close control and trickery after pouncing on a Cameron Burgess mishit clearance. He calmly rolled the ball across to Isak to poke a shot past Muric.
With the game in the bag, Howe rang the changes — bringing on Harvey Barnes, Sean Longstaff and Kieran Trippier and then Miguel Almiron for the brilliant Isak and Lewis Miley for Guimaraes.
Harvey Barnes lashed a volley over after Dan Burn had done well to keep Gordon’s deep cross alive.
But Ipswich were denied snatching a consolation when Dubravka got down quick to keep out a thumping low shot from Nathan Broadbent.
Burn had a late fifth ruled out for offside.
The Tractor Boys can forget any chance of extending their return to the Premier League beyond this season if McKenna cannot solve their leaky defending.
They are too easy to play. They cannot win at home. The omens are not good.
A WOMAN has revealed we’ve all been using our stainless steel pans wrong just in time for Christmas.
Rachel Popper, from the US< took to social media to share how to actually use it and stop food from sticking.
With many of us stuck in the kitchen over Christmas, the trick will come in useful so that we don’t have to also spend hours scrubbing pots and pans clean.
She said: “Do your stainless steel pan stick?
“Don’t worry, it’s not the pan’s fault.
“You’re just doing it wrong.”
Rachel clarified that she was joking, but said most people had never been taught how to use one correctly.
To start with she said you need to ensure the pan is preheated properly before trying to put any oil in.
She then showed the simple trick to test if the pan was ready to cook with.
She let the pan heat- which you can do on any level of temperature and flicked in a little water.
“If the water droplets, just sit there and boil, not hot enough,” she said.
However if the water droplets instantly start ‘dancing’ around you’re good to go.
Rachel added: “That is science. It’s called the Leidenfrost effect.
“And this is how you know your stainless steel is hot enough to cook on and will not stick.”
Next you want to get some oil and use a spatula to make sure the entire pan is coated and then start cooking.
The savvy trick will ensure your food and your pan doesn’t get ruined this Christmas.
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Rachel’s video went viral on TikTok @racheljpopper with over 4 million views and 141k likes.
People were quick to thank her in the comments with many claiming they had no idea how it worked.
One person wrote: “I’ve gone 32 years wondering why my pan eats more eggs or whatever I’m cooking more than I do!! I appreciate you!”
Another commented: “Thanks for this info!!! Learned something!!”
“This is the absolute truth and works every time!” penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “Thank you, I’ve been trying to figure out how to make mine not stick.”
“It just takes so long to come up to temp I get inpatient….it’s definitely me, I’m the problem,” claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “You saved a pan today I was just talking about getting rid of ours cause EVERYTHING sticks to it I’m gonna try this.”
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