Siôn Jenkins: 'I met Billie-Jo's killer'

The foster father of murdered schoolgirl Billie-Jo Jenkins claimed yesterday to have discovered a new potential suspect in the case.

Siôn Jenkins, 49, said he spoke to a man, whom he took to be a plain-clothes policeman, in his hall in the hour after Billie-Jo's death. The 13-year-old was found in February 1997 in a pool of blood after being bludgeoned to death with a tent peg on the patio of the family home in Hastings, East Sussex.

In 1998, Mr Jenkins was found guilty of her murder and jailed for life, but after an appeal and two retrials he was released in 2006. The former teacher has always denied his involvement.

The development coincides with the release of Mr Jenkins' book, The Murder of Billie-Jo. "This man ... has never been traced," he said. "It only struck me as I researched the book. I would like the police to issue a photo-fit." He said the dark-haired man had told him Billie-Jo "would be all right".

Sussex police declined to comment on the matter.