Sion Jenkins is considering a future as a

campaigner against miscarriages of justice.

The former teacher was acquitted of murdering his 13-year-old foster daughter Billie-Jo after a jury failed to reach a verdict on Thursday.

He described the police investigation as "wilfully blind and incompetent".

He is now looking into the possibility of representing suspects in other cases who believe they have wrongly been accused of serious crimes.

Bob Woofinden is a leading investigative journalist who has campaigned on behalf of Mr Jenkins.

He said: "I'm hoping he's had a good night's sleep because I don't think any of us have had for months, because it's obviously been a very stressful time.

"Clearly he was exhilarated at the outcome, although disappointed that it didn't result in a straight acquittal which is what everyone, I think, would have wanted.

"There's always something unsatisfactory about an undecided outcome.

Nevertheless, he's going to continue, I think, possibly to do something in the miscarriages of justice area."

Mr Jenkins has yet to make a public announcement about whether he is planning legal action against Sussex Police following his acquittal.

But Mr Woofinden said: "Certainly, on his own level, I think he'll continue to try to make sure that something is done about this case."

A police force insider told The Argus the force was planning to "vigorously" defend any civil action brought by Mr Jenkins for wrongful arrest or imprisonment.

Meanwhile The Argus has learnt that exhibits used in the case will be retained for at least 30 years.

It means they could still be used in any review of the case, which is codenamed Operation Cathedral.

Mr Jenkins was acquitted at the Old Bailey on Thursday after a jury failed to reach a verdict after almost 40 hours of deliberation.

Yesterday he was thought to be tasting his first day of proper freedom at his wife's home in Lymington, Hampshire.

Mr Jenkins, former deputy headteacher at all-boys William Parker School in Parkstone Road, Hastings, is set to make a fortune in the wake of the case.

Broadcasters, magazines and newspapers are clamouring to speak to him about his nine-year fight to clear his name.

He was convicted at Lewes Crown Court of murdering Billie-Jo in 1998.

It was alleged he bludgeoned her to death with an 18-inch metal tent peg in a fit of rage as she painted patio doors at the family home in Lower Park Road, Hastings, on February 15 1997.

But his conviction was quashed by Appeal Court judges at the second attempt in 2004, prompting a retrial.

He had spent six years in prison, mainly at Category A Wakefield Prison in West Yorkshire. Following the quashing of his conviction, he was granted bail.

His defence team at appeal forced the first re-trial by raising doubts about the forensic evidence used to convict him in 1998.

Mr Jenkins faced his first re-trial last summer which ended with the jury failing to reach a verdict.

A second re-trial was ordered, starting last October 31. Mr Jenkins' ex-wife Lois flew from her Tasmanian home as a prosecution witness.

However, the six-man, six woman jury failed to reach a verdict and Mr Jenkins was formally cleared by trial judge Mr Justice David Clarke.