Woman who killed vulnerable teenager to claim benefits dies in prison

A woman who killed a vulnerable teenager and lived off her benefits payments for almost 18 years has died in prison.

Avril Jones, 66, a prisoner at HMP Stirling, died in custody on November 8.

Jones and her partner Edward Cairney, 82, were convicted of murdering Margaret Fleming, who was last seen alive aged 19, at a family party in December 1999.

Margaret had learning difficulties and lived with Cairney and Jones at a squalid cottage in Inverkip, Inverclyde, after they acted as her “carers” when her father died.

The couple murdered Margaret between December 1999 and January 2000.

Jones went onto claim benefits worth £182,000 while the pair staged an elaborate cover-up, which police described as “greedy” and “fantastical”.

Margaret was reported missing in 2016 and her body has never been found.

The pair were convicted at the High Court in Glasgow in 2019 and detectives issued an appeal to Cairney and Jones to reveal where Margaret’s remains were, on what should have been her 39th birthday.

“Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual,” a Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said.

“Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised and the matter reported to the procurator fiscal. Fatal accident inquiries are held in due course.”