A paedophile who killed a schoolboy after he was released from a youth detention centre in Newton Aycliffe has had his bid for freedom rejected.

A Parole Board has refused to allow Dominic McKilligan, who murdered schoolboy Wesley Neailey in 1998, to be released from prison.

Following an oral hearing, the panel also refused to recommend a move to open prison for McKilligan, who was jailed for life in 1999 for the murder of the 11-year-old from Newcastle.

Wesley NeaileyWesley Neailey (Image: PA) Nine months before Wesley’s death, McKilligan, 18 at the time of the killing, was discharged from Aycliffe Young People’s Centre, where he had been sent for a string of sex attacks on young boys in his hometown of Bournemouth in 1994.

A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: “Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.”

Wesley vanished from near his home, on Croydon Road in Arthur’s Hill on June 5, 1998 and was initially treated as a missing person.

Weeks later when searches of the local area proved unsuccessful detectives began to focus their attentions on the convicted sex offender who had been housed in Newcastle.

When officers searched his flat on Wingrove Road in Fenham they found a torn-up cheque for £150 made out to Wesley.

McKilligan told police a number of stories to throw them off but eventually took them to a remote spot in Healey, in the Tyne Valley, where he had dumped Wesley’s body.

Wesley had been strangled.

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court took just two hours 50 minutes to find McKilligan guilty of murder and rape following a three-week trial.

He was jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years but McKilligan later successfully appealed his rape conviction meaning that he will not be on the sex offenders’ register if he is ever released.

Dominic McKilliganDominic McKilligan (Image: PA)

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The Parole Board spokesperson added: “A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.

“Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.

“Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.

“It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.

Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.”