Police hunt on-the-run Barnsley father who fled manslaughter trial

Police are hunting Shaun Kenny Stewart, 53, from Barnsley, who was given a five year jail sentence on Wednesday 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 7ins tall 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.

During the trial, the court heard how in March 2012, the pair travelled to Tyers Hall Pumping Station – a Northern Power Grid circuit breaker near Barnsley, which provides electricity to 3,000 customers in the area – with the intention 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.

But the pair did not realise that lines are automatically energised three minutes after a short-circuit occurs.

As the cable was re-energised, ex-soldier Mr Campbell suffered a fatal electric shock and Stewart suffered third-degree burns to his leg, face, and neck.

The court had previously heard that after the incident Stewart returned home to his wife – without their son and suffering severe injuries – and claimed he could not remember what had happened.

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