From Surviving a Stalker to Seeking Justice: My Journey to Solve the Suzy Lamplugh Case After Encountering the UK's Most Notorious Killers

IT was lunchtime on the July 28, 1986, when 25-year-old estate agent Suzy Lamplugh left her office in Fulham to meet a client named in her work diary as ‘Mr Kipper’.

She was seen later that day near the property she was meant to show him, but despite extensive searches and public appeals, no trace of her was ever found. She was legally declared dead, presumed murdered, in 1993.

Forensic psychologist Kerry Daynes was stalked by a man who tried to run her over Credit: EMMA PHILLIPSON – Commissioned by The Sun

John Cannan, a convicted murderer and sex offender was identified by police as the prime suspect in the Lamplugh disappearance in 2002.

Cannan had been released from three days prior to Suzy’s disappearance and was later convicted of the 1987 murder of Shirley Banks as well as multiple rapes and attempted abductions.

The Crown Prosecution Service concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge Cannan, although police took the highly unusual step of publicly stating that they believe that he had killed Lamplugh.

He died in prison in November 2024 taking any knowledge he had of what happened to Suzy to his grave.

A picture of the Ford Fiesta belonging to missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, who vanished after meeting a bogus housebuyer Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Convicted killer John Cannan was the prime suspect in the disappearance Credit: SWNS

As a forensic psychologist, Kerry Daynes has been asked to create psychological profiles and risk assessments on some of Britain’s most high profile prisoners including serial killer and Moors Murderer , to the infamous .

She first met serial killer Dennis Nilsen – who murdered at least 12 to 15 young men and boys in London between 1978 and 1983 – during her stint working at HMP Wakefield – known as ‘Monster Mansion’ – in 1996.

It was also during her time carrying out a research project at Wakefield that she met Ian Brady and has never forgotten shaking the hand of the Moors Murderer.

She recalls: “His hand felt like a sack of dry bones. And I couldn’t help but think about what these hands had done.”

Kerry was also commissioned by Charles Bronson’s legal team to assess whether one of Britain’s most notorious prisoners was fit for release.

Bronson gained a reputation as the UK’s most violent prisoner after spending almost his entire life in jail from the age of 22.

Over the years he has taken 11 hostages in nine sieges, attacked at least 20 guards and caused £50,000 worth of damage in rooftop protests.

But although Kerry believed he was no longer a risk to the public, she found it safer for him to remain behind bars as he would struggle to reintegrate into society.

She decided to get involved with the Suzy Lamplugh case after being stalked herself by a man who became obsessed with her after her TV appearances linked to her work.

In one horrifying incident Kerry says that the man tried to run her over and on another occasion she found that her pet cat had been killed and thrown over her fence.

The man received a 12-month harassment notification in 2016.

At the height of her ordeal, terrified Kerry contacted the National Stalking Helpline, run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

Suzy’s parents Paul and Diana Lamplugh at Scotland Yard in 2000 following the reopening of the investigation into her murder. They passed away before ever knowing what happened to their daughter. Credit: PA:Press Association Detectives from the Metropolitan Police search ground near Norton Barracks, Worcestershire in December 2000 Credit: PA:Press Association

She eventually became a trustee of the and helped them campaign for new anti-stalking legislation.

Statistics show that one in five women will experience stalking in their lifetimes. According to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, only 1.4 per cent of reports of stalking to the police ended up with the stalker being convicted in the year ending March 2022.

She says: “I was really horrified to find out that 94 per cent of all femicides are preceded by stalking. It doesn’t mean that all stalkers are killers, but most killers will start out as stalkers, certainly killers of women.”

Kerry now believes she could finally help cops close the Lamplugh case.

She has also worked with Moors murderer Ian Brady who along with his then-girlfriend Myra Hindley, kidnapped and murdered five children in the 1960s and buried at least four of their bodies on Saddleworth Moor in northwest England. Credit: AFP Serial killer and necrophile Dennis Nilsen is thought to have killed up to 15 young men in North London between 1978 and 1983. Credit: Rex

Kerry, 52, says: “Even though the prime suspect in the case has died, I am still researching it because I know it is a huge source of distress to Suzy’s family that the case has never been solved, it has never been put to bed.”

Her parents, who tirelessly campaigned for personal safety legislation through the Suzy Lamplugh Trust after her disappearance in 1986, have both passed away but she has three siblings Richard, Tamsin, and Lizzie.

“When I really started to look into the prime suspect John Cannan, I still thought there are avenues that potentially the cold case team could go down,” says Kerry.

“I have contacted the cold case team recently and myself and some colleagues have put ourselves forward with some new cutting-edge psychological research that we believe might be able to take the case forward.

Kerry Daynes has met violent armed robber dubbed ‘Britain’s most notorious prisoner’ Charles Arthur Salvador better known as Charles Bronson Credit: Alamy Suzie’s disappearance remains a mystery Credit: News UK Ltd

“There is not going to be new evidence in this case. But is always changing and there are new technologies that haven’t been used before, they are exciting. I really hope they take us up on it.”

She explains: “I have got to keep an open mind, but I can fully understand why Cannan is the prime suspect.

“I think that it is pertinent that he always deflected from and always denied the crimes he was convicted of.

“He was very much somebody who wanted to be in control of the narrative. From what we know about John Cannan, he was this very disturbed, frightening character.

“I do think there is new psychological knowledge and techniques that could be applied to this case, that might provide the evidence that could tip the CPS file into the area where it is strong enough.

“Obviously you can’t take somebody who is deceased to trial, but you can say that this is strong enough that he would have been prosecuted and the case would be solved.

“Or if not, the case remains open and they would look at other people.

“But I know police very strongly believe that John Cannan was responsible. Even though he is dead, he obviously took secrets with him to his grave and the case is very much open for Suzy’s remaining family.

“If there is anything I can do to help, obviously I will do that.”

Kerry clearly recalls when the Suzie Lamplugh case made the news, despite being just 12 years old at the time.

“We were warned about stranger danger,” says Kerry. “I suppose Mr Kipper came to represent that frightening bogey man who might pull you into his car. And actually that is not typical.

“For me she represents any one of us, she is just this beautiful girl.

“Violence towards women and girls has always been a big part of the work I do.

“Nobody ever wants to be the poster girl for violence against women and girls, but unfortunately that is what Suzy is.

“I just want her to be remembered and I would like the younger generation to know about Suzy and about all the really great work that goes on in her name.

“Every time I speak to people about Suzy Lamplugh, they always turn the conversation to who is the mysterious Mr Kipper.

“I would really like to see that being answered to the best of our ability so we can then move the conversation on and start talking about Suzy and all of the really good work that goes on in her name at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.”

And despite Kerry’s belief that Suzy’s murder could finally be solved, she sadly believes that her body will never be found.

“My heart absolutely breaks for any family who lose a loved one through such terrible circumstances and don’t even have body returned to them,” she explains.

“I have spoken to many victims’ families who have been in this situation and there really is nothing more painful, it is just that added twist if the knife. It really is torture for them. And I don’t believe Suzy’s body is ever likely to be found at this point.

“But it would be really lovely if they could achieve some level of closure. I also think it would be nice for the public to receive a level of closure so it stops being a mystery about who is Mr Kipper and actually becomes a discussion about Suzy and who she was.

“She was this really bright girl who had this vibrant life and everything going for her. I am offering our services to the for free and helping to prove who killed her would be my dream.”

Kerry’s podcast The Profiler with Kerry Daynes launches on Monday 26 May http://www.theprofiler.co.uk and links to her Substack which delves deeper into Britain’s most infamous cases http://www.kerrydaynes.substack.com