The family of a Scots mum feared murdered in Spain say they are facing a “never ending living nightmare” after learning the prime suspect in her disappearance has absconded from jail.
Police are hunting Dean Woods after he failed to HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire after being on day release on Saturday.
The 40-year-old luxury yacht dealer was serving a 12 year sentence after he was caged for his role in an £8m cocaine ring in February 2020.
Woods, who also uses the alias Simon Corner, was quizzed by cops in the Costa Del Sol over the 2015 disappearance of his ex-partner Lisa Brown, who is originally from Dumbarton.
The mum-of-one, then aged 32, was reported missing after failing to collect her young son from school in Guadiaro, near San Roque, more than seven years ago.
Woods went on the run but was detained on a European Arrest Warrant at Heathrow Airport for 'conspiracy to murder' in April 2018. He was extradited back to Spain but investigators were later forced to close 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.
Lisa’s sister Helen Jordan has now issued a heartfelt appeal for anyone with information about the convict’s whereabouts to come forward while hitting out at the decision to place him in an open prison.
The 56-year-old said: “It’s like a never ending living nightmare. We’re feeling a bit 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 that 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 all this time.”
Lisa’s family found out about Woods absconding via a support group on Facebook earlier 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.”
Derbyshire Constabulary have issued a similar appeal to trace Woods, who they believe may have returned to his native Liverpool.
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.”
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