Brady Advocate Arrested Over Victim's Grave

Moors murderer Ian Brady's mental health advocate has been arrested for allegedly failing to reveal information about where one of his child victims is buried.

Jackie Powell, 49, was held at her home in South Wales on suspicion of preventing the burial of a body.

It came after she reportedly told a Channel 4 documentary Brady gave her a sealed envelope containing a letter to Keith Bennett's mother Winnie Johnson, with strict orders it was only to be opened after his death.

There has been speculation it may give the location of the 12-year-old's grave, finally allowing Mrs Johnson, 78, who is dying of cancer in a hospice, to lay her son to rest.

Powell, who is probably the person closest to Brady and became his mental health advocate in 1999, was arrested at 10am on Thursday and then released on bail.

Police searched her home, looking for the letter, and took away some documents. They also searched Brady's cell at the high-security Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside.

So far, no letter has been found.

Ms Powell told Sky News correspondent Nick Martin her words had been "blown out of all proportion" and she had been "misrepresented".

She refused to confirm reports that Brady had given her a letter addressed to Mrs Johnson and added that she was taking legal advice.

Mrs Johnson has not been told of the possible existence of the letter due to her ill health, her solicitor John Ainley told Sky.

He added: "I'm not convinced of the validity of this letter, but it remains to be seen."

Asked about Ms Powell reportedly claiming she had a letter, he said: "It seems a foolish remark to make if not true, and one which could lead to a criminal prosecution."

It comes weeks after Mrs Johnson made a final plea to Brady to tell her where her son was buried.

She pleaded: "If you have got it in your heart to tell me where Keith is, it would end the trouble I have had for 47 years. I would like him found and buried before anything happens to me."

Keith was grabbed on June 16, 1964, after he left home to visit his grandmother.

He was killed by Brady and accomplice Myra Hindley - who were responsible for the murders of five youngsters in the 1960s.

The pair lured children and teenagers to their deaths, sexually torturing them before burying their bodies on Saddleworth Moor in Greater Manchester.

Pauline Reade, 16, disappeared on her way to a disco on July 12, 1963, and John Kilbride, 12, was snatched in November the same year.

Lesley Ann Downey, 10, was lured away from a funfair on Boxing Day, 1964, and Edward Evans, 17, was killed in October 1965.

Brady was given life at Chester Assizes in 1966 after he was convicted for the murders of John, Lesley Ann and Edward.

Hindley was also jailed for life for the murders of Lesley Ann and Edward and for shielding Brady after John was killed.

It was not until more than two decades later that the pair finally admitted killing Keith and Pauline.

Both were taken back to Saddleworth Moor in 1987 to help police find the remains of the missing victims, but only Pauline's body was found.

Hindley died in jail in November 2002, aged 60.