Hunt launched to find the man who left electrocuted son to die

Police are hunting Shaun Stewart, 53, from Barnsley, who was given a five-year jail sentence on March 12 for the manslaughter of his son Brent Campbell, 29.

Mr Campbell died after experiencing an 11,000 volt shock while coiling up the electricity cable to steal with his father. His body was found 40 metres away from a damaged transformer in a nearby field.

Stewart absconded on March 5, midway through his trial at Sheffield Crown Court, and has not been seen since. He was sentenced in his absence.

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “A warrant was then issued for his arrest and, despite extensive attempts by police to find him, he has not been seen or heard from since.”

Stewart is described as 5ft 7in and of slim build. He has short brown hair and tattoos, including a Chinese design on his left forearm, a tattoo that says “Luv” on his left thumb, and one that says “Love” on his right thumb.

Officers say he is known to have links in the Barnsley area and lived in Lord Street, 
Hoyle Mill, before going on the run.

His trial heard how in March 2012, the pair travelled to a circuit breaker near Barnsley, which provides electricity to 3,000 customers in the area, intending to steal what they believed was expensive copper cable.

What they did not realise was that the cable was actually made of considerably less valuable aluminium.

The pair sawed down a pole which supported three overhead cables so that the power would short-circuit and be safe to touch.

They did not realise that lines are automatically energised after a short-circuit occurs. As the cable was re-energised, Campbell suffered a fatal electric shock

Anyone who knows Stewart’s whereabouts should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.