Sussex Police have apologised for its failings in the initial investigations into murdered schoolgirls Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows which contributed to their killer evading justice for more than three decades.

Chief Constable of Sussex Police Jo Shiner issued a formal apology today for the failed prosecution of the girls’ killer Russell Bishop in 1987, the force’s overall preparedness of the case, its overreliance on some witnesses over others and for the arrest of Nicola’s father Barrie Fellows in 2009.

On October 9, 1986, nine-year-old best friends Karen and Nicola were brutally killed by paedophile Russell Bishop as they played near their homes in Wild Park in Moulescoomb.

Bishop was acquitted at the end of his first trial in December 1987 due to weaknesses in the case presented by police and prosecutors, and lies told by his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Johnson, who was later jailed for perjury.

After his acquittal he was left free to kidnap, molest and throttle a seven-year-old girl, leaving her for dead at Devil’s Dyke in February 1990. She miraculously survived and Bishop was convicted of this attack. He was sentenced to life with a minimum of 14 years.

Nicola and Karen’s families battled for more than 30 years to finally see Bishop jailed in 2018 after a retrial based on fresh forensic evidence as part of a prosecution made possible under reformed double jeopardy laws.

During his second trial, Bishop tried to cast suspicion on Nicola’s devastated father Barrie.

Mr Fellows was arrested by Sussex Police on suspicion of sharing indecent images in 2009, but the force confirmed on Wednesday that there was no evidence he had done anything wrong.

The officers who arrested him were not aware that the allegations had already been investigated and dismissed in 1988.

Bishop died in prison in 2022 aged 55.

Read more: Mother of Babes in the Wood victim says she is only now able to grieve 37 years on

Following the case, Karen and Nicola’s family made a number of complaints to Sussex Police and a full review of these was commissioned by Chief Constable Jo Shiner, then Deputy Chief Constable.

The independent review by Surrey Police found that there were failings in the 1986 criminal investigation and that Barrie, Nicola’s father, should not have been arrested as part of a connected investigation in 2009. There was, and remains, no evidence of any wrongdoing on his part.

Sussex Police would not give further details of the force’s failings and said Nicola and Karen’s families did not wish for the complaints report to be made public.

The Chief Constable has separately met with both families to formally apologise on behalf of Sussex Police.

She said: “The murders of Karen and Nicola were horrific crimes which rocked the local community, and still resonate today.

“The impact on the community, however, pales into insignificance against the life-long impact these crimes had on Karen and Nicola’s parents and families.

“Not only did they have to cope with the loss of two children in the worst possible circumstances; following Bishop’s acquittal in 1987, they campaigned tirelessly to ensure that their children received some justice, and Bishop was finally convicted in 2018.

“Throughout the years, the families have continued to engage constructively with Sussex Police and I pay tribute to their strength, their determination and their dignity.

“When I was deputy chief constable I made a commitment to ensure that all their outstanding complaints were answered, and that Sussex Police would take full responsibility for any past mistakes no matter the passage of time.

“It is clear that, despite the successful prosecution in 2018, mistakes were made in those earlier investigations in 1986 and 2009.

“On behalf of Sussex Police, I have met in person with both families to formally and personally apologise for those failings in the initial investigation.

“I have further apologised to Nicola’s father, Barrie Fellows, for his unjustified arrest in 2009 and for the distress and the long-lasting impact this had on him and his family.

“I make it clear now. Barrie should not have been arrested. There was, and remains, no evidence of any wrongdoing on his part.

“It is evident that Nicola and Karen’s families were let down by Sussex Police in the past and it is right that we own and learn from these mistakes.

“My thoughts remain with Karen and Nicola’s parents and families and it is my sincere hope that our apologies today will help them finally have some form of closure.”