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 Milly 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 — suffered immeasurable losses, while Jeremy Paine’s gains were many.
Meanwhile, Billie-Jo’s killer remains undetected.
One man’s cloud has certainly been another man’s silver lining.