Suzy Lamplugh suspect John Cannan was given a taxpayer-funded cremation after dying penniless behind bars, the Mirror can reveal.
The convicted rapist, 70, took his secrets to his grave after dying last month in his cell at HMP Full Sutton, in East Yorks. He was named as the prime suspect in estate agent Suzy’s 1986 abduction and murder, but he always denied any involvement.
Now the Mirror has learnt the Prison Service paid for the monster’s cremation – thought to have cost in excess of £1,000 – after he died with less than £100 to his name. And a family member has revealed that they did not attend his funeral, more than 20 years after cutting him off for his heinous crimes.
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Cannan, 70, was said to have been abandoned by his family who cut him off more than 20 years ago after confronting him about his heinous crimes
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The relative – who refused to be named – said: “In terms of John’s inheritance, there was literally less than £100 left. No family members will be attending his funeral. The prison authorities are kindly arranging all of this, on our request.” Ministry of Justice guidelines say that following a death in custody, Governors must “offer to contribute to reasonable funeral expenses”.
Up to £3,000 is available for services, with the Prison Service covering basic funeral expenses such as simple coffins and funeral directors’ fees. However they do not fund wakes, headstones, burial plots, flowers or transport for mourners and the money is paid directly to the funeral directors.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “John Cannan’s crimes were horrific and our thoughts remain with Shirley Banks’ friends and family. It is standard practice for the Prison Service to cover basic funeral expenses for any death in custody, and this money is paid directly to the funeral director.”
Cannan wrote to the Mirror last year denying his involvement in Suzy’s murder and blasting the Parole Board for blocking his release
Cannan was named by cops as the chief suspect in one of Britain’s most notorious unsolved crimes, Suzy’s abduction and presumed murder. Cannan always denied involvement but his own family have said he was a manipulative criminal who revelled in his crimes.
After his death, Suzy’s brother wants police to scour sickening documents written by the sex killer in a final bid to solve her murder. Cannan wrote a mass of papers in his cell, including unpublished novels and Richard Lamplugh believes they could hold clues to his sister’s disappearance.
Cops have never found a body for estate agent Suzy but named Cannan as the main suspect in her disappearance
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Official documents said Cannan’s writing contained scenes of sexual violence and characters with a dismissive attitude towards women. Richard, 64, told the Mirror: “It appears he used his own experiences to write novels. We known he was very controlling. He loved to play games and withhold clues. So if someone can get access to his writings they may hold information about our case. I could never read them but if some brave person could then they might hold vital clues.”
Cannan was sentenced to life for abducting newlywed Shirley Banks in Bristol in 1987 and bludgeoning her to death 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.