Police dig up garden in body hunt at Corley

[dutchman]

Police and forensic teams swooped on the garden of a home on the outskirts of Coventry, hunting for the body of a scrap dealer who went missing two years ago.



Officers from West Mercia Police descended on the quiet country road Breach Oak Lane, in Corley, as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Jesse Richards.

Yesterday, officers from Worcester manned the cordon at the side of the road while excavations took place in the garden of a large house behind them.

A force spokesman confirmed the searches were part of the hunt for the body of the missing scrap dealer and said officers started their search on Monday.

It is the second time police have searched land on that stretch of road, as part of the investigation.

Mr Richards was reported missing in July 2009 after a business trip to the Cleeve Prior area of Worcestershire.

The 41-year-old never returned home to his wife and three children in Surrey.

His body has never been found, although it is understood he was taken to Warwickshire before his death.

A Corley resident who wanted to remain anonymous said last night: ‘’Police have been here for about 48 hours now. They’ve been digging up a garden and scouring the hedges looking for something.

Former boxing promoter Kevin John Houston, aged 49, of Longford Road, Longford, Matthew Robert Taylor, aged 27, of Wyken Way, Stoke Heath, Joseph Doe, aged 36, of Southminster, Essex, and David Butler, aged 25, of Colnbrook, Slough have all been charged with Mr Richards’ murder and are awaiting trial.

Two men have also been charged with perverting the course of justice in connection with Mr Richards’ disappearance.