Police seek end to 21 year mystery

Detectives working to identify a body found in Scarborough over 20 years ago have received a new lead after recent appeals.
Police made a renewed plea for information last week after reopening the case of a man found in the harbour on 4 May 1989.
As a direct result of the appeal a witness, now living in Scarborough, contacted Detective Sergeant Stuart Thompson, who is leading the investigation, to say he recognised the man from the 1980s when he was living in Blackburn.
DS Thompson said: “The man recalls the subject of the investigation from visiting pubs in the Shadsworth and Intack areas of Blackburn. Although he couldn’t remember his name, he thinks that he spoke with a local accent and may have been something of a loner.
“The witness also believes he may have known the man from serving time in prison around the Blackburn area, possibly in Kirkham Prison.
“I am delighted that this new information has come to light and I would be very grateful to anyone else who can help the investigation if they came forward.
“In particular, if people from the Blackburn area can cast their minds back to the 1980s and see if they know who this man is, I would be very keen to hear from them.”
Police have also released an improved facial sketch of the unidentified man.
Background
Last week, North Yorkshire Police appealed for witnesses after reopening the investigation into the identity of a body found in Scarborough 21 years ago.
A middle-aged man was discovered in the town’s harbour at 6.15am on 4 May 1989 and despite a number of enquires at the time he was never identified.
Police believe that he may have had connections in Greater Manchester, Blackburn, Todmorden and Calderdale.
When he was found in 1989, his age was estimated at between 30 and 60 years old. He was described as white, clean shaven, weighing approximately 12 stone, 5ft 10in tall with brown eyes.
He had a full head of black collar length hair that was turning grey and possibly combed into a centre parting. His teeth were all natural with fillings and gold capping.
Pathologists found a scar and swelling just above his left ankle which were caused by a fracture that had not healed properly and may have caused him to walk with a limp.
When his body was recovered from the harbour he was wearing dark brown cotton trousers, a plain beige cotton shirt, grey slip-on shoes, black socks and a long green, nylon anorak with a zipped hood. He also wore a Sekonda wrist watch.
Detective Sergeant Stuart Thompson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This man has been dead for over 20 years but we still haven’t established his identity.
“Someone out there must know who he is. If you lost someone in 1989 and you don’t know what happened to them then this man could be that person. I am appealing to anyone who may be able to help us find out who this man is to get in touch.
“It is known that he stayed at a hotel in Scarborough for two nights. He left on 1 May 1989 and was last seen alive in the early evening of that day.
“He had few possessions. All he had with him was a Greater Manchester Police property bag containing a few toiletries, a Barclays Bank cheque stub and cheque book cover, a newspaper, a used rail ticket from Blackburn to Todmorden and a railway timetable.”
Anyone with any information that could help the investigation is urged to contact DS Stuart Thompson on 0845 60 60 24 7.