LEROY CAMPBELL SHOCKS BILSTON WITH BRUTAL CRIME AGAINST FAMILY AND DENIED COMPENSATION

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Bilston, West Midlands, Leroy Campbell, a convicted rapist and violent offender, committed a series of heinous acts that culminated in the murder of a young woman and a brutal attack on her grandmother. The incident unfolded in November 2016, leaving a trail of devastation and raising serious questions about the justice and support systems in place for victims of such crimes.

According to reports, Margaret Skidmore, a great-grandmother, was the unfortunate victim of Campbell’s violence. She had gone to her daughter Lisa Skidmore’s home in Bilston, where she found Campbell hiding inside. Campbell had just committed the horrific acts of rape and murder against Lisa, who was only 37 years old. The scene was one of chaos and tragedy, with Campbell’s actions leaving Lisa dead and her mother fighting for her life.

Campbell, who was already on probation due to a prior conviction for rape, launched a vicious assault on Mrs. Skidmore. He strangled her using a vacuum cleaner cord, rendering her unconscious. During this attack, her daughter’s body was left upstairs, a grim reminder of the violence that had just taken place. Campbell’s intent appeared to be to eliminate witnesses and cover his tracks.

In a desperate attempt to destroy evidence, Campbell set fire to the house. Fortunately, neighbors noticed the flames and managed to rescue Mrs. Skidmore from the burning building. She was rushed to hospital, where medical professionals diagnosed her with multiple injuries, including a fractured jaw, a fractured cheekbone, extensive bruising, and other facial injuries. Despite her injuries, Campbell was later sentenced to life imprisonment for his crimes, which included the rape and murder of Lisa Skidmore, the attempted murder of her mother, and arson with the intent to endanger life.

However, the aftermath of the crime has been marred by controversy. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) refused to grant Mrs. Skidmore any compensation for her injuries. In a formal letter, the authority questioned whether her jaw was truly fractured and dismissed her other injuries as not qualifying for compensation, stating that the bruising, black eyes, bloody nose, and swelling were not listed as qualifying injuries in their guidelines. The letter read: “The widespread bruising to your head, black eyes, bloody nose, bloodshot left eye, swelling over your cheek, tenderness around your jaw and bruising and cuts to your neck are not listed in Annex E. [We are] therefore unable to make an award for these injuries as they are not qualifying injuries.”

Mrs. Skidmore expressed her frustration and disappointment, telling a newspaper, “It’s not about the money, it’s the principle. It adds insult to injury because right from the very start my family has had no rights in this case.” Her case highlights perceived flaws in the system, especially considering the fact that Campbell, a known offender, was under probation at the time of the attack.

Further scrutiny has been directed at the handling of Campbell’s case. The National Probation Service (NPS) has acknowledged serious failures in managing his supervision, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the system that allowed such a dangerous individual to remain at large and commit further crimes.

Adding to the controversy, there have been reports of other high-profile cases where offenders received compensation for minor injuries. Notably, serial killer Levi Bellfield, who murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, was reportedly awarded nearly £6,000 after receiving a swollen lip during a prison fight. This has sparked outrage among the public and victims’ families, prompting calls for a review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

Ian Austin, Labour MP for Dudley North, voiced his concerns, stating, “The system clearly needs to be looked at properly and I’ll be demanding ministers explain what’s happened and what they’re going to do to prevent it happening again. Ordinary decent people who go out to work and pay their taxes will be absolutely furious that their money gets handed out to someone like Bellfield, but a victim of a crime like this doesn’t get a penny.”

Campbell’s sentencing in May last year was severe. He received a whole life sentence after pleading guilty to the rape and murder of Lisa Skidmore, the attempted murder of her mother, Margaret Skidmore, and arson with the intent to endanger life. His case remains a stark reminder of the devastating impact of violent offenders and the ongoing debates surrounding victim support and justice system reforms in the UK.