UK UK - Charlene Downes, 14, Blackpool England, Nov 2003

[Bluebear15]

ie noticed iin crime reporting there is definite home counys bias charlene probley dident get on the front page beouse she dident live in the south east region is more important than class and race

Charlene didn't make the front page because she was a teenager who pften stayed away from home, plus there was no evidence of an abduction. Also, her parents didn't report her missing for several days. It's young children who make the front pages usually. Jmo
None of the kids in my post lived in the xouth east.

 

[Earth]

I think that depends on your definition of working class...Sarah Payne, Holly Wells/Jessica Chapman, and Robert Black's victims came from working class families, and all made the front pages. All imo.

James lived in one of the poorest parts of Britain, in the middle of the city to boot. Sarah, Jessica and Holly and two of Black's British victims disappeared in the 'harmless' countryside.

 

[mrC]

the papers also only publish were the police give them somthing how intrested the press are depends on how intrested the police are how intrested the police are depends if they thinkthere foul play inolved or sheits just a runaway they tend to judge this on weather kids has run away before or not as soon as the knew charlene had stayed away beore they would of put as a run away and they dont brief the press for runaways or pull out all the stops to find them

 

[Bluebear15]

James lived in one of the poorest parts of Britain, in the middle of the city to boot. Sarah, Jessica and Holly and two of Black's British victims disappeared in the 'harmless' countryside.

Working class people can live (or disappear) in the countryside you know. Two of Black's victims were abducted from cities. I re-iterate that all the kids i mentioned came from working class familys and made the front page.

 

[mrC]

you woul think the police might take some more intrest considering the peoplel odging with the downes family one of them was on bail for a srious sex crime he was later conicted of and the police must of known this becouse he would o had to report to them pretty often

 

[sportstergirl]

Yet another paedophile caught in a sting in Blackpool has Bob Downes on his friends page. The Downes family have allowed paedophiles around their family for years going back to 1989.

 

[sportstergirl]

Another version of the last time Karen saw Charlene in Saturday's Sun "newspaper"! Karen now claims to have last seen her on Blackpool Promenade!

 

[ISarahlouise]

they get no sympathy from me whether they themselves killed her or not.

the way they are STILL friends with multiple pedos, some of whom were around charlene, is very telling. they can go on their anti muslim and immigrant rants all they want but we all know they’re hypocrites.

sorry this case really frustrates me

 

[Inspectordreyfus]

New to Websleuths but not the case. Does anyone remember any details as to the (alleged or confirmed) whereabouts of Karen, Bob and Becky Downes, John McNally and Ray Munro and anyone else who visited the house who had contact with them on the Sunday. I can remember more about the varied info Saturday but can't remember much about statements for Sunday. Also, interested in anyone local remember if Passions Swingers club next to 109 had anyone would likely be occupying the building throughout that day or whether it would normally be empty on a Sunday? I am actually relatively local but not an area I would have been too familiar with.

 

[sportstergirl]

On the Sunday Karen was home, Bob was home but went looking for Charlene at one of her friends.Becky & John McNally had been living together for 2 years at his flat in Eddlestone Road near the bingo place. Ray Munro was at the Downes until Glen Paget returned from his girlfriend's in Blackburn around lunchtime & they caught the bus to the Wings club in Cleveleys returning to the Downes with cans of beer around 1700hrs.The trio remainned at home drinking all evening.
Passion was running until 2006 the owner may not have lived there as he had other properties. I lived on the other side of the train station in High Street & only heard about Passion a couple of years ago!
Lena Brock,aka Jessica/Jessie Karen's mother lived with Bob, Karen, Charlene & Robert Downes jnr aka Rob. Ray Munro, Glen Paget, another man known as Taffy for legal reasons( he admitted paying Charlene for a sex act!) & possibly another younger man since deceased were known to live at 109 Buchanan Street. There were also several men Bob brought back from the pub who crashed out there for varying lengths of time

 

[Inspectordreyfus]

On the Sunday Karen was home, Bob was home but went looking for Charlene at one of her friends.Becky & John McNally had been living together for 2 years at his flat in Eddlestone Road near the bingo place. Ray Munro was at the Downes until Glen Paget returned from his girlfriend's in Blackburn around lunchtime & they caught the bus to the Wings club in Cleveleys returning to the Downes with cans of beer around 1700hrs.The trio remainned at home drinking all evening.
Passion was running until 2006 the owner may not have lived there as he had other properties. I lived on the other side of the train station in High Street & only heard about Passion a couple of years ago!
Lena Brock,aka Jessica/Jessie Karen's mother lived with Bob, Karen, Charlene & Robert Downes jnr aka Rob. Ray Munro, Glen Paget, another man known as Taffy for legal reasons( he admitted paying Charlene for a sex act!) & possibly another younger man since deceased were known to live at 109 Buchanan Street. There were also several men Bob brought back from the pub who crashed out there for varying lengths of time

Many thanks! A prompt, detailed answer indeed! Also, a couple of details that I certainly hadn't read in the past. Funnily enough. I've not shut my blinds yet and looking right at the Wings Club as I read your reply. Do you remember who owned the building where Passions was at the time? I'm asking all this as I'm thinking about body disposal possibilities and issues and soneone out of the immediate circle that I'm interested in. I have read most info on the case (well, anything in the public domain) in the past but only revisit it once in a while so forget things, especially timeline wise and may miss any bits of information that have come up in the meantime so your response is very helpful indeed! I was worried I would get replies about kebabs!

 

[sportstergirl]

Andreas Mylonas snr aka Greek Andy owned the building,a pub, takeaways & flats. He was no friend of the Downes & accused Bob of stealing from his property.

 

[Inspectordreyfus]

Andreas Mylonas snr aka Greek Andy owned the building,a pub, takeaways & flats. He was no friend of the Downes & accused Bob of stealing from his property.

Cheers for that!

 

[sportstergirl]

RIP Charlene, 21 years missing today.

 

[mrC]

the cops lack of interest in the family lodgers seems strange considering what they knew about them

 

[mrC]

she may of abused by the kebab workers but they didn't kill her

 

[dotr]

By Richard Hunt
8th Feb 2025 rbbm

https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/im-renewing-my-call-for-an-independent-inquiry-into-child-sexual-exploitation-in-blackpool-4981667

''Campaigners are renewing calls for an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation and grooming gangs in Blackpool.
They say the issue is still as relevant as ever but are frustrated that nothing is being done about it.
There were heated exchanges at Blackpool Council last month as councillors debated calls for the resort to be part of a national inquiry into child grooming gangs while campaigners looked on from the public gallery.''

''She said: “An inquiry is needed to uncover the truth, hold those responsible to account, and finally bring justice to victims like Charlene Downes and many other vulnerable children who were exploited and failed by the very systems meant to protect them.
“Unlike other towns across the country, Blackpool has never had an inquiry. This has left the extent of the problem hidden in the shadows, denying victims the justice they so desperately deserve.''

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said at the time that police errors in gathering evidence had contributed to the second trial's collapse.

Karen Downes said: "It would mean everything to get answers as we live in limbo, especially if it helped get justice for Charlene and all the other girls affected by grooming gangs."

There is a £100,000 reward on offer for information leading to a conviction in the case.

Charlene Downes: Missing teen's mum wants grooming gangs inquiry

The mum of missing Charlene Downes says she is "living in limbo" and wants justice for her daughter.

www.bbc.com

 

[Bluebear15]

Karen and Bob make up a grooming gang all by themselves. Jmo, moo

 

[sportstergirl]

Be careful what you wish for Karen! Remember when you shouted & stamped your feet for a second investigation into Charlene's murder & you refused to co operate, lied & obstructed the police yet again!
The "parents" still assosciate with paedophiles today, they visited a man jailed for historic 3eX offences who is thanked in the back of Karen's book & another caught in a sting was on Bob's friend's page