The dad of missing schoolgirl Danielle Jones has told how Stuart Campbell started "coming on stronger" to his daughter after the last Christmas the family spent together.

Tony Jones took to the stand at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday after his wife Linda had finished being cross-examined by Campbell's defence barrister, Michael Borrelli QC.

When asked by prosecutor Orlando Pownall about the relationship between Danielle and her uncle Stuart Campbell, Mr Jones said he noticed a change leading up to her disappearance.

He told the court on day five of his brother-in-law's trial: "He (Campbell) was coming on stronger towards Danielle from Christmas onwards, I saw a change in the amount of times he came around."

Mr Jones was referring to the Christmas prior to Danielle vanishing on June 18, 2001.

Earlier, Mr Jones had told the court how Danielle was not a "very confident" person.

When asked by Mr Pownall how she behaved in Campbell's company, Mr Jones told the court she seemed quite confident with him and said Campbell praised her.

Mr Jones also told of another incident on May 25 in 2001 when he came out of his shower at the family home in Hayle, east Tilbury, to find Campbell at the top of the stairs.

He told how his daughter had been in her room and had came out looking rather "flushed".

Mr Jones told how Campbell said to Danielle that day "why are you so red", but she had no answer.

Mr Jones told the court: "She was definitely embarrassed about something."

Whilst giving evidence Mr Jones also described his relationship with 15-year-old Danielle saying that they got on quite well but had "their moments", he explained these "moments" were mainly when she would not do her chores around the house.

Stuart Campbell, 44, of Meadow Road, Grays, denies the abduction and murder of Danielle Jones, of Hayle, East Tilbury. The case continues

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Published Wednesday October 16, 2002

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