A MOTHER preparing to mark the 17th anniversary of her daughter’s murder has criticised police for leaving her in the dark about the reopening of the investigation.

Lindsey Scholes was 17 when she died in a house fire on Milgate Street, Royston, on September 8, 2001.

The fire was started deliberately when white spirit was poured through the letterbox. Lindsey’s two friends survived one by jumping out of a bedroom window but Lindsey was too scared and remained inside.

Nobody has ever been caught, and her case is one of 26 murders being re-examined by South Yorkshire Police’s cold case team.

Her mum Jackie Meloy, 56, of Queensway, Royston, said: “It’s 17 years to the day tomorrow, and it feels like yesterday.

“I’m fighting all the time for some justice.”

Jackie said she had contacted officers for updates on the investigation into Lindsey’s death, but her voicemails and e-mails were unanswered.

She said: “I’ve tried ringing the officer over the last few days and it just goes to voicemail.

“I’ve left three voicemails over the last couple of days and I’ve e-mailed him and he’s not got back to me. I know he is in work because his colleague has checked.

“He told me Lindsey’s things would be back from forensics and he would update me and let me know if there had been any improvements in the forensics.

“He said a new boss should be in place and the investigation should be up and running.

“But I can’t get through to anyone and they are giving me the run around, that is how I feel. I’ve been doing this 17 years and I’ve never been treated how I have been treated recently.”

Jackie contacted 101 and was given two incorrect phone numbers one of which was obsolete and another was for a leisure centre.

“What the hell is going on? I’ve lost all faith in them. I want to know what is happening with Lindsey’s investigation.”

The cold case team was set up two years ago after police said they ‘owe it to the victims and their families’ to bring the killers to justice.

In June this year, Det Insp Simon Palmer of the Major Incident Team told the Chronicle five unsolved Barnsley murders, including Lindsey’s, would be investigated further after ‘new opportunities’ were identified.

The other Barnsley cases being re-examined include:

- Vera Cooper, 80, who was strangled in her Grimethorpe home in 2002

- Lily Stephenson, who was battered to death on Springfield Place, Barnsley, in 1962

- Wendy Gallagher, 24, who was strangled on Princess Street, Barnsley, in 1991

- Brian Metcalfe, 44, from Wath, who died from chest injuries caused by stamping.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: “A full review of this case is planned and a forensic review is ongoing. We continue to support and update Lindsey’s family, and will continue to do so. If any new information or evidence is made available to police this will be explored and progressed to the fullest extent, to determine what happened to Lindsey. If anyone has any information they wish to share with police about Lindsey’s murder, please call police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: “A full review of this case is planned and a forensic review is ongoing. We continue to support and update Lindsey’s family, and will continue to do so.

“If any new information or evidence is made available to police this will be explored and progressed to the fullest extent, to determine what happened to Lindsey.

“If anyone has any information they wish to share with police about Lindsey’s murder, please call police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”