Latest news with #JonBancroft
BBC News
28-07-2025
- BBC News
Man released on police bail after Cornwall murder arrest
A man who was arrested on suspicion of murder following a fatal fire in Newquay has been released on bail, police have body of a man in his 30s was found after the blaze broke out in a property in Narrowcliff in the Cornish town on 22 July, Devon and Cornwall Police said. A 33-year-old man from Bolton who was arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on police bail, pending further inquiries, the force Supt Jon Bancroft, the senior investigating officer, said: "We are keeping an open mind in relation to the circumstances surrounding the death, which we are currently treating as unexplained." He asked potential witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage, doorbell or CCTV footage to get in and Cornwall Police said the cause of the fire was thought to be are ongoing to find out what happened and a police cordon is still at the scene, the force man's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, the force Supt Bancroft added: "Officers are continuing to carry out a number of inquiries in relation to this investigation."
BBC News
25-07-2025
- BBC News
Devon and Cornwall Police deny crime commissioner's bodies claim
Detectives have denied claims from their own police and crime commissioner that multiple human remains have been found in woodland at the centre of a murder and Cornwall Police said the body of one man had been recovered from woods at Sticker, near St Austell, and no other remains had been and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez told a live streamed meeting on Friday multiple bodies had been Supt Jon Bancroft said: "I can categorically state that we have recovered remains believed to be those of Daniel Coleman only from an area of woodland in Sticker." "No other remains have been located at this scene to date," he and forensic experts have been carrying out extensive inquiries in woodland since the discovery of the body of Daniel Coleman, 43, was Desborough, 39, is accused of murdering Mr Coleman, from St Austell, on a date between June 2 and July 7. He is due back before Truro Crown Court next was answering questions at the Police and Crime Panel meeting when she said: "We have got a huge forensics tent down there and lots of forensics officers, obviously we've found dead bodies in that wood."We're just trying to establish how many there may be at this point in time and whether we are aware of who they are or what might have happened to them. "So we also don't know how long they may have been there, some of them."She has been contacted for a response to the police's denial of her comments. Det Supt Bancroft said: "We currently have three separate murder investigations being conducted in the Cornwall area."I have oversight of all of these investigations at this time, and can confirm they are being carried out independently of each other and are not believed to be added: "It is imperative that we continue to respect the integrity of the formal court process and ensure the administration of justice is not compromised in any way."We hope members of public understand that, for this reason, we cannot comment further on the defendant or the investigation."I would also urge people not to speculate on this case, particularly on social media, and risk prejudicing these proceedings."Publication of material which does so could lead to a criminal offence under the Contempt of Court Act." Police are also investigating the discovery of the body of Lee Hockey, 50, who was found in woodland between Truro and Probus on July 1.A third murder inquiry is under way following a fatal fire at a residential property in Newquay on July body of a man in his 30s was found in the property and a 33-year-old man from Bolton was arrested on suspicion of murder.
BBC News
25-07-2025
- BBC News
Murder arrest after fire in former Newquay hotel
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a fire in a former Newquay blaze broke out at the former Narrowcliff Hotel in the Cornish town at about 16:30 BST on Tuesday, said Devon and Cornwall body of a man in his 30s was found inside the property, said police.A 33-year-old man from Bolton was arrested on suspicion of murder and he remained in police custody, said the force. Police said inquiries were ongoing but they were treating the cause of the fire as suspicious. Det Supt Jon Bancroft, the senior investigating officer, said: "While we have arrested a man on suspicion of murder, we are keeping an open mind in relation to the circumstances surrounding the death."Incidents of this nature are shocking for any community, especially in the light of recent events in Cornwall and our ongoing investigations."There will be a heightened police presence in the area."
Daily Record
25-07-2025
- Daily Record
'Multiple bodies' found in woods as police investigate alleged murder
The force were called to the woodlands after the body of a missing person was discovered. Multiple bodies have reportedly been found in the woodlands where an alleged murder is being probed. Cops from all over the country have been brought in to help Devon and Cornwall Police scour the woods outside the Cornish village of Sticker after the body of a missing person was discovered. A source told Cornwall Live that the investigation - which also involves private security staff and a drone ban - now involves a number of bodies. However when they asked the force about this, Detective Superintendent Jon Bancroft, from the team investigating since the body of missing man Daniel Coleman, 43, was found there, refused to answer. Police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez told a Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel on July 25 that the force, along special units from the National Crime Agency and officers from around the UK, have been searching for the remains of multiple people. The site is Paramoor Woods, a small woodland area just off the A390 between St Austell and Truro, where searches have been ongoing for three weeks. Images from the scene show an unmarked white forensic van along with a police riot van full of kit were parked in a layby near the entrance to a property in Lower Sticker. A small blue and white marquee was also in situ along with a marquee with camping chairs for officers to be able to shelter out of the rain when needing a break or cup of tea. Five yellow bin bags full of what looks like forensic overalls could be seen by the CSI tent. A portable toilet was also in place while more police vehicles were parked farther down the woodland country lane. On the other side of the road, a large area closed with red police tape could also be seen with officers probing the ground. When we asked about the significance of the red tape, one of the officers from Staffordshire Police told us it was just as part of the officers' "training". Red police tape at crime scenes typically indicates a dangerous or high-risk area and tells people that entry is prohibited and that the scene needs to be preserved. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. DS Bancroft said it was an "extremely complex and unique investigation with experts working methodically across a large and challenging area of woodland", adding that their "enquiries are progressing with diligence and a significant police presence is expected to remain at the scene into the coming weeks". The search of the woodland area outside Sticker followed the arrest of one man in connection with the murder of Mr Coleman, from St Austell, who had been reported missing since June 1. He is alleged to have been killed between June 2 and July 7. James Desborough, 39, has been charged with the murder of Mr Coleman and has since appeared before Bodmin Magistrates' Court and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear before Truro Crown Court on August 8.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- BBC News
Murder inquiry in Sticker into missing man is 'challenging'
A murder inquiry into a missing man in Cornwall has been described as "complex and challenging" by police after a body found in woodland last week was not linked to the body was discovered at a wooded site between Truro and Probus on Tuesday evening and a second, separate, murder investigation continues into the discovery. Police said there were no current updates to this officers continue to search a separate woodland in Sticker, near St Austell, for clues into the whereabouts of the missing man.A local 39-year-old man was rearrested on Saturday on suspicion of murder in connection with his disappearance and remains in police custody. A woman in her 30s, from Newquay, was arrested last week on suspicion of murder and remains on police bail. 'Dense woodland' Last week, Devon and Cornwall Police said the body found on Tuesday was not the missing person they were looking for, and the person is yet to be family of the missing man has been informed of all initially thought the two inquiries might be linked but are now investigating them separately. Det Supt Jon Bancroft said: "This is a complex investigation and a challenging environment for our officers in dense woodland and difficult weather conditions."We are being very careful and using the very best forensic and scientific advice from specialist officers to ensure every line of inquiry is thoroughly exhausted."He added the force was aware of the "impact" the investigations were having on the community."A large police presence will remain in the Sticker area into this week, and I continue to ask that people do not speculate on social media about this case, as it may negatively impact our inquiries and investigation."
