Glittering prizes

  • 1997: Billie Jo Jenkins murder is investigated by Detective Superintendent Jeremy Paine.
  • 1998: Conviction of Siôn Jenkins. Jeremy Paine becomes Head of Sussex Drugs Squad.
  • 1999: Jeremy Paine becomes a Crimewatch presenter and a media celebrity.
  • January 2000: First appeal dismissed. Jeremy Paine is the star of 'Trail of Guilt', a BBC film glorifying Sussex Police's conviction of Siôn Jenkins.
  • July 2000: Jeremy Paine speaks about the case at a Forensic Science Society conference with three pathologists (whose evidence was later discredited at Appeal).
  • 2001: Jeremy Paine leads the Sarah Payne investigation.
  • 2001: Jeremy Paine becomes Head of Sussex CID.
  • 2002: Jeremy Paine launches the Child Rescue Alert initiative after visiting California to research a similar operation.
  • 2002: Jeremy Paine is called in to advise on the Millie Dowler case.
  • 2002: Jeremy Paine becomes Head of Sussex Police Crime Management Department
  • 2003: Jeremy Paine speaks at a Forensic Science Society conference on How the media affects the Criminal Justice system.
  • 2004 Jeremy Paine, Chief Superintendent, in charge of Operation Otter.
  • 2005: Jeremy Paine becomes Divisional Commander, Brighton.
  • 2006: Jeremy Paine becomes Assistant Chief Constable for Sussex and Vice Chair of the Sussex Criminal justice Board.

Over these years Siôn Jenkins - who did not kill Billie-Jo - has suffered great losses, while Jeremy Paine's gains have been many.

Meanwhile, Billie-Jo's killer remains undetected.

One man's cloud has certainly been another man's silver lining.