‘Grudge’ motive linked to murder

POLICE believe a Sheffield family man murdered in the run-up to Christmas was likely to have been the victim of a targeted attack and are combing through his personal affairs for a potential motive.
Simon Holdsworth with fiancee Carleen McKeownSimon Holdsworth with fiancee Carleen McKeown
Simon Holdsworth with fiancee Carleen McKeown

Temporary Det Supt Phil Etheridge, who is leading the inquiry into the murder of Simon Holdsworth, yesterday appealed for information about anyone who might have held a grudge against the 36-year-old, whose body was found in a field close to his home in Hackenthorpe.

He said: “We need to hear from anyone who might know someone who had a grudge against Simon, someone who was perhaps in dispute with Simon or someone who had a motive to take his life on that cold December night. Someone out there knows the answer to these questions.”

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The detective declined to say whether a 45-year-old man arrested earlier in the month on suspicion of murder was known to Mr Holdsworth. The man was released after questioning and remains on police bail.

Police also made a fresh plea for witnesses who were in the area around the time Mr Holdsworth was attacked to come forward.

Mr Holdsworth’s body, was 
discovered in a field off Birley Spa Lane, near the Hogs Head pub, 
at about 6.30am on December 
17.

The previous night, he had finished work at FBS Prestige in Intake, where he worked as a paint sprayer, at 10.55pm.

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Mr Holdsworth had been working extra hours to buy presents for his fiancée, Carleen McKeown, and his step-son Tiarnan, who turned four on Christmas Eve. The keen Sheffield Wednesday fan was due to marry his partner and was trying to save money for their honeymoon.

A colleague gave him a lift from their workplace to a bus stop in Mansfield Road, close to the Noah’s Ark pub, where he got on the number 120 First Bus shortly after 11pm.

He got off that bus at his usual stop, close to the Hogs Head pub, around 10 minutes later. However, he never made to the family home which was only a few hundred yards away.

Several people have contacted South Yorkshire Police to help the inquiry but yesterday there was a new appeal for those who may have been outdoors in the area, particularly between 11.10pm and midnight, to get in touch as they may hold potentially vital information.

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Mr Etheridge said: “We know that people were out and about in the vicinity of Birley Spa Lane on the night of Monday, December 16, and we need to speak to as many of them as we possibly can in order to create the fullest possible picture of activity in the area.

“We need to speak to all those bus passengers who were on the number 120 bus with Simon that evening, as he travelled from his workplace in Intake back home to his fiancée and child.

“As we know, he never made it home that night.

“We also need to speak to everybody who was out and about in the area. This is a quiet neighbourhood, especially on a Monday night.

“However, we know that people were going to and from the Indian takeaway nearby, and we know that people were drinking in the Hogs Head pub, which closed its doors at around 10.30pm on Monday, December 16.

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“We need to know who fatally attacked Simon Holdsworth as he made his way home from work that night, and why.”

Police do not yet know what kind of weapon was used to hit Mr Holdsworth, who died from severe head injuries. At this stage, detectives only know some kind of blunt instrument was used in the fatal attack.

Police have previously revealed that a mobile phone and a gold chain were missing from Mr Holdsworth when he was discovered.

Mr Etheridge said: “This was a brutal and tragic crime which has torn apart an ordinary, loving, hard-working family.

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“I would urge everybody who holds any information at all, however apparently insignificant to call us straight away.

“Please let us be the judge of how important the information you hold is.”

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident number 149 of 17 December 2013.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.