The father of missing schoolgirl Danielle Jones has told a court of his "suspicions" about the man accused of murdering his daughter.

Danielle Jones's father Tony said he had seen Stuart Campbell, 44, of Grays, Essex, apparently touch her inappropriately but he had not been sure enough to say anything.

Mr Jones said he went to his brother-in-law's house on the day the 15-year-old disappeared because of those concerns.

Stuart Campbell, 44, denies abducting and murdering his niece, who went missing from her home in East Tilbury in Essex in June last year.

I didn't want to cause a big row in the family

Tony Jones

The case at Chelmsford Crown Court against Mr Campbell resumed on Thursday after a break the previous day, which would have been Danielle's 17th birthday.

Mr Jones, 42, told the court he had never raised concerns about inappropriate contact between Mr Campbell and Danielle because he wanted to be sure before making the claims.

Mr Jones was asked what physical contact he had seen taking place between Mr Campbell and his daughter.

He said he had seen Mr Campbell putting his hand near her breast on a number of occasions.

'Inappropriate contact'

Asked why he had never raised concerns if he thought there had been inappropriate contact, Mr Jones replied: "I wanted to be 100% sure.

"I didn't want to cause a big row in the family."

The trial was adjourned until Friday.

Earlier this week, Mr Jones told the court his brother-in-law tried to avoid him in the days after Danielle's disappearance, and did not offer to help search for her.

The court has already heard Mr Campbell was "fixated" on his niece, and obsessed with schoolgirls.

Danielle's body has never been found.