BABES in the Wood child killer Russell Bishop is believed to have just weeks to live as he is dying from brain cancer.

The 55-year-old killed Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, both aged 9, in the notorious 1986 attack but escaped justice for 32 years.

He strangled the girls to death after luring them into a park before sexually assaulting them in Brighton's Wild Park, in what became known as the Babes in the Wood murders.

Bishop has been diagnosed with bowel cancer, which has now spread to his brain, a national newspaper has reported.

The Argus: Russell Bishop murdered Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in Moulsecoomb in 1986.Russell Bishop murdered Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in Moulsecoomb in 1986. (Image: The Argus)

He underwent surgery to try to stop the growth of the disease, but it was unsuccessful.

The killer, who is said to be “devastated” by the diagnosis, is now having palliative care at HMP Frankland, County Durham, where he is held.

A source reportedly said: “Bishop has weeks or, at most, months left and he is devastated by the diagnosis.

“His life is ebbing away and he is getting progressively weaker.

“He is getting good care at the jail, but it is only palliative care to make his final weeks less painful."

They added: “But a lot of people think there is an element of karma to this and not many of the staff — nor some of the inmates — feel too sorry for him.

“I am sure the families of those he attacked and killed might feel there is some justice here as well.

“Bishop has never shown much remorse for what he did so people feel justified in not feeling much sympathy towards him.”

The Argus: Babes in the Wood victims Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway Babes in the Wood victims Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway (Image: The Argus)

Bishop, from Brighton, lured best friends Nicola and Karen to a secluded den in the city’s Wild Park where he sexually assaulted them before killing them. Their bodies were found the next day.

He was arrested, but walked free in 1987 due to various errors by police, forensic experts and prosecutors.

Bishop went on to abduct and sexually assault a 7-year-old girl in a near identical attack and was jailed for attempted murder in 1990.

He grabbed her off the street while she was roller skating and took her away in his car, leaving her to die at Devil's Dyke. But she somehow survived.

He was eventually convicted of the Babes in the Wood murders in December 2018 due to DNA advances linking him to a sweatshirt that had been found.

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