Relief of murder victim's "vindicated" father

Barry with a photo of his murdered daughter Nicola

The father of "Babes in the Wood" murder victim Nicola Fellows has spoken of his relief after police formally ruled-out allegations of sex abuse that had been levelled at him.

Detectives dropped their investigation into the claims against Barry Fellows on the grounds that there was no evidence.

Supermarket worker Barry, 59, was arrested at his home in Cheshire after West Sussex Police received allegations that he assaulted his daughter 23 years ago.

Father-of-six Barry had been arrested on 7th April at his home in Great Sutton, at the same time as a 44-year-old man was held in Sussex.

It was never suggested that the allegations were linked to the murder of Nicola and her friend Karen Hadaway, 10.

But Barrie answered to police bail at a station in Chester and was told that there was no evidence against him and that the case was being formally terminated.

Police returned two PC computers and a laptop computer, along with more than 50 VHS cassettes and DVDs which they had confiscated.

Barry said: "This has been the worst ten weeks of my life apart from losing my little girl. I have suffered massive stress and anxiety because of these false allegations.

"After visiting the police station today I have been totally vindicated and my property has been returned.

"My children are my world and I worship all of them. To my accused of something as heinous as this is absolutely disgusting and outrageous.

"I would have felt better if Sussex Police had visited me and investigated the matter out of the spotlight. It would have been a lot more professional and kinder to me and my family."

Barry, who lives with his second wife Karen, explained that he had been off work on sick leave since he was arrested by police and was looking forward to returning to his job.

Added Barry: "I have been off work since all this nightmare began. Now get on with my life without a blemish on my character.

"I'd like to thank the community for their support and kind messages."

Barry's half-brother, ex-police officer Ian Heffron said: "I don't think people realise how hurtful this has been to our family.

"No-one should ever have to go through what we have gone through.

"Every time a child is murdered and we see of hear it in the news, we all have to re-live what happened twenty years ago.

"Barry is a kind, strong man who has coped with all this tremendously and I am glad it can now all be put behind us."

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "When there are serious allegations made - in this case alleging that sexual crimes had been committed against a child - the public rightly expect us to investigate.

"After receiving information we arrested and interviewed two men.

"That process, and the enquires that followed, have enabled us to decide we will not be taking action against either man."

The investigation is quite distinct from the on-going unresolved inquiry into the Wild Park 'Babes in the Wood' murders.

* Nicola Fellows, 10, was found strangled to death with Karen Hadaway, nine on October 10, 1986.

Labourer Russell Bishop, then 19, was acquitted of their murder the following year.

In 1991, he was jailed for life for the kidnap and sexual assault of a seven-year-old Brighton girl.

Sussex Police said in 2006 that there was not enough new evidence to prosecute any possible suspects in the "Babes in the Wood" case.

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