The sister of missing Alexandria mum Lisa Brown have told of their “never-ending nightmare” after the prime suspect went on the run from jail.
Helen Jordan has issued an appeal for anyone with information over the whereabouts of Dean Woods, also known as Simon Corner, after he was quizzed by cops over the 2015 disappearance of Lisa in Spain.
He went on the run and was arrested at Heathrow Airport for “conspiracy to murder” but Spanish police dropped charges due to lack of evidence.
He was later jailed for his part in an £8million cocaine smuggling plot but has now gone on the run again from an open prison in England, where he is serving a 12-year sentence.
Lisa’s distraught family have told of their horror after finding out 40-year-old Woods is back on the streets, with sister Helen hitting out at the decision to place him in an open prison.
Helen, 56, said: “It’s like a never-ending living nightmare. We’re feeling shocked. Obviously we know he wasn’t in prison for Lisa but we thought that a 12-year sentence would mean he would be away for a wee while.
“Then to learn that two years down the line he’s in an open prison and has been out on day release is absolutely shocking. Somebody has mucked up. Someone has made a big mistake.
“We were speechless. It took a while for it to sink in and then once it did, I started getting angry. It’s probably the anger that’s kept me going.”
Lisa’s family found out about Woods absconding via a support group on Facebook this week.
She added: “I would never have known. We’d have just been going along thinking he was still inside, totally unaware that he’s on the run again. He could be anywhere. Nothing he does, wherever he goes, nothing surprises me about him. He’s obviously got help to actually abscond.
“But I’m not done with this yet. I’ve got a few things in the fire that I’m looking into.
“I want him caught. If you see him, do the right thing and report it. He’s a dangerous individual.”
Former Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School pupil Lisa was 32 when she vanished from her home in Guadiaro near San Roque in 2015.
She was reported missing after failing to pick up her son from school on November 4 and her loved ones have been battling for justice ever since, including putting up a £100,000 reward for information.
Woods went on the run but was detained on a European Arrest Warrant at Heathrow for conspiracy to murder in April 2018. He was extradited back to Spain but investigators closed the case due to a “lack of concrete proof”.
The young mum’s family fear she was murdered and dumped at sea but her body has never been found. Woods has always denied any involvement.
Derbyshire Constabulary has issued an appeal to trace Woods after he absconded on day release from Sudbury open prison.
In November 2018, Woods – who has previously gone by an alias of Simon Corner – began his involvement with a cocaine dealing ring. Six gang members drove 500kg of the Class A drug to cities across England over seven months. He was sentenced to 12 years in jail.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “Offenders who are absent from open prison without permission face being moved back to closed conditions and extra time in jail. Prisoners are only moved to open jails after a careful risk assessment and must abide by strict rules to remain there.”
A statement from the force said: “We are appealing for information after a convict has failed to return to HMP Sudbury. Dean Woods did not return after a period of day release from the open prison on Saturday 19 November.
“The 40-year-old is currently serving a 12-year sentence for drugs offences. He is described as around 5ft 11in tall, of medium build with short brown hair and brown eyes and speaks with a Liverpool accent. Dean has links to the Liverpool area.
“Anyone who has seen him or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact Derbyshire police quoting reference 884-191122.”
