{"id":123126,"date":"2021-04-29T14:58:21","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T14:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=123126"},"modified":"2021-04-29T14:58:21","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T14:58:21","slug":"fears-pcso-killer-roamed-streets-for-victim-after-female-dog-walker-accosted-by-mystery-van-driver-just-days-before","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/fears-pcso-killer-roamed-streets-for-victim-after-female-dog-walker-accosted-by-mystery-van-driver-just-days-before\/","title":{"rendered":"Fears PCSO killer roamed streets for victim after female dog walker accosted by mystery van driver just days before"},"content":{"rendered":"

A TERRIFIED female dog walker was accosted by a man in a van just one mile from where a tragic PCSO was murdered, locals claim.<\/p>\n

Julia James, 53, was tragically discovered\u00a0with head injuries in Akholt Wood in Snowdown, near Dover on Tuesday – with her loyal Jack Russell beside her.<\/p>\n


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The tragedy bears a chilling similarity to the brutal hammer murders just two-and-a-half miles away in Chillenden in 1996.<\/p>\n

Police are now treating Julia's death as murder with locals urged to remain vigilant as the killer remains at large.<\/p>\n

Have you been approached? Call The Sun Online on 0207 782 4368 or email exclusive@the-sun.co.uk<\/strong><\/p>\n

They are probing whether the mum, who had worked for the police for 15 years and was commended for bravery, was the victim of a random attack carried out by a stranger.<\/p>\n

Locals say two weeks ago a woman walking her dog was approached by a man in a white transit van in Nonington – about a mile from the murder scene – two weeks ago.<\/p>\n

He was distracted and the woman managed to flee in panic and called out for help.<\/p>\n

One female neighbour of Julia said: \u201cWe\u2019re all terrified. There\u2019s a lot of dog walkers in the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s horrific. We\u2019re aware there\u2019s a report of another woman having been followed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kent Police have been approached for comment.<\/p>\n

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Officers ramped up the investigation today with cops seen carrying out meticulous fingertip searches in remote woodland and fields.<\/p>\n

Police haven't confirmed if Julia, who is thought to have worked in the domestic violence unit at Kent Police, was on duty at the time.<\/p>\n

No arrests have been made and a post-mortem will be carried out to establish a cause of death.<\/p>\n

One family friend said Julia\u2019s family were considering her killer was a stranger.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cThey\u2019re becoming more convinced this was a random attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody has been arrested.<\/p>\n

"It\u2019s on their minds that it\u2019s random.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a totally mystery as to why anyone would harm her.\u201d<\/p>\n


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The theory Julia was killed by a stranger in a random attack has left people living in the Kent hamlet scared to go out alone.<\/p>\n

Charles Woodgate, who represents Aylesham, Eythorne and Shepherdswell on Dover District Council, said: "People in the village are scared there was some crazy nutter in the woods who is now on the loose.<\/p>\n

"They fear it was a stranger who killed Julia and hopefully the police catch them quickly."<\/p>\n

Mary Bosson, a cousin of the PCSO's mum, said today: "It is worrying. We all walk our dogs around that area. I have a pregnant granddaughter and she walks her two dogs around there.<\/p>\n

"She was there Monday and Tuesday, on her own. We don't know if it was random or what. We won't be doing it now until we find out."<\/p>\n

Dorothy Morgan said: "It's so chilling. She was a really nice girl. I just can't believe it. We seldom walk about, but I've seen more people walking around in twos. Quite a lot of people have dogs here."<\/p>\n

Another mum, who also lives nearby, said she won't walk her dog on the path where Julia was found.<\/p>\n

"I used to go most days on my own but I just wouldn't do that now", she said.<\/p>\n

"I'm also having to take my daughter to school, whereas normally she'd take the bus. I don't want her walking on her own, or waiting for it on her own, and I think most parents will probably be doing the same thing.<\/p>\n

"There's obviously quite a big police presence so hopefully everything will be OK, and we have a strong community, which is nice."<\/p>\n


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It comes as Julia's ex Wayne Davis told how their sobbing son Patrick, 23, revealed the heartbreaking news she had been killed to the family.<\/p>\n

He told The Sun: \u201cThe first I heard of it was last night.<\/p>\n

"I asked my son if he knew what was happening in Snowdown. <\/p>\n

"He said to begin with he didn\u2019t, but there was police everywhere. I said I\u2019d heard a woman has lost her life.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThen a bit later, the phone rang and he said, 'Dad, it\u2019s Mum\u2019. He was crying and crying.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was devastated. Julia was the love of my life, but we separated, as couples sometimes do.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was a lovely woman. She was walking her dog a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat she did as a PCSO was not just a job – it was a way of life."<\/p>\n

And he raised the frightening possibility someone knew where Julia was when she began her walk.<\/p>\n


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\u201cWhat I personally find odd, is it\u2019s happened in the middle of nowhere," he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a mystery. The police know more than what they\u2019re saying – they want to catch who has done it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cFor something like that to happen, in the middle of nowhere – you don\u2019t know whether it\u2019s just random."<\/p>\n

The nephew of Julia's devastated husband paid tribute to her today.<\/p>\n

Karl James, who lives in the same street as Julia and Paul, said he had been working away when tragedy struck.<\/p>\n

He told Channel 5 news: "It's been a real shock.<\/p>\n

"We're just waiting for answers really, that's the worst bit.<\/p>\n

"She's a lovely person."<\/p>\n

He added: "It's really sad."<\/p>\n

Julia's body was discovered near Chillenden, where mum Lin and six-year-old daughter Megan Russell were murdered in a random hammer attack in 1996.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lin's older daughter Josie, then nine, suffered horrific injuries\u00a0but survived.<\/p>\n

Michael Stone\u00a0was jailed over the killings with his earliest chance of release in 2023, when he will be 63.<\/p>\n

The Chillenden murders<\/h3>\n

Julia James’ body was found in Snowdown, Kent – just two-and-a-half miles from Chillenden.<\/p>\n

In 1996,\u00a0Michael Stone\u00a0slaughtered Dr Lin Russell, 45, and her six-year-old daughter Megan, along with the family dog.<\/p>\n

He also tried to kill nine-year-old Josie Russell, who miraculously survived the horror.<\/p>\n

The family were tied up, blindfolded and attacked with a hammer as they walked in a country lane in the Kent village.<\/p>\n

Following the horrific incident, Josie and her father\u00a0Shaun moved to Dyfrryn Nantlle, Gwynedd,\u00a0Wales Online reported.<\/p>\n

And Josie has gone on to see great success as an artist. She got engaged in 2018, when she said she hopes to be a mum.<\/p>\n

Stone's earliest chance of release will be in 2023, when he will be 63.<\/p>\n

Lawyers acting for him have claimed there is "compelling evidence" linking\u00a0Levi Bellfield\u00a0to the\u00a0Russell killings.<\/p>\n

Neighbours say Julia may have been working from home when she took the dog for a walk after finishing in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

Local Sean Simmonds believes he is the last person to have seen tragic Julia alive.<\/p>\n

He said: "I was polishing my car on the driveway and I looked up and saw Julia walking past on the other side of the road with the dog.<\/p>\n

"She was heading towards the woods at the back, I'd occasionally bump into her there when I was out walking my two dogs. <\/p>\n

"I didn't see her come back. Around 4pm, the police arrived and started cordoning off the area."<\/p>\n


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The 57-year-old paramedic added: "I might have been the last person to see her alive. <\/p>\n

"It\u2019s chilling."<\/p>\n

Mum-of-two Julia, who has a grandson, became a PCSO in 2007 and was commended for bravery three years later after chasing down a shoplifter.<\/p>\n

After she moved to the town of Tenterden to continue her role in 2013, she told a local paper: "I am a people person and love being in the community."<\/p>\n

Devastated locals say she was a pillar of the small community of Snowdown.<\/p>\n

One neighbour of Julia\u2019s broke down in tears when he paid tribute.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cIt\u2019s heartbreaking – absolutely tragic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe it. She was a loving mum and the pillar of the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is devastating. She was a lovely woman. A terrific part of the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer family transformed the house and improved it greatly. It was a great comfort having a PCSO there.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re a lovely family."<\/p>\n

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Officers were yesterday seen guarding a field alongside Aylesham Road with several others sealed off as they investigate.<\/p>\n

An aerial image from the scene appears to show a police tent set up next to floodlights in a nearby field.<\/p>\n

There is still a large police presence in the area today with officers seen carrying out fingertip searches.<\/p>\n

Assistant Chief Constable of Kent Police Tom Richards said: "Officers are carrying out a number of lines of enquiry to establish the circumstances and people in the Snowdown area will see an increased police presence as a result.<\/p>\n

"It is vitally important that anyone who was in the area on Monday and Tuesday who may have seen something suspicious gets in touch with us.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re particularly keen to speak to those who regularly visit the area who may have seen something out of place and those who drove by who have dashcam footage.<\/p>\n

"We would advise people in the area to remain vigilant until the full circumstances of the death are established."<\/p>\n

Home Secretary Priti Patel also tweeted, saying: "So saddened to hear of the death of Kent Police PCSO Julia James. I offer my sincere condolences to Julia\u2019s friends, family and colleagues at this awful time."<\/p>\n

Officers are keen to speak to anyone in the area on Monday or Tuesday who may have seen something unusual or suspicious.<\/p>\n

Anyone with information should call 0800 0514526.<\/p>\n


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