Police fear pensioner murdered in botched burglary

Pensioner Clement Desmier, a musician known locally as Butch, was discovered in his semi-detached home on Rowlestone Rise, Bradford, by neighbours who say the property had been ransacked.

He was found sitting in a chair with a pillow over his head, although last night police would not reveal the severity of the injuries the 68-year-old had suffered or whether any weapon had been used.

West Yorkshire Police have now launched a murder investigation and have issued an appeal to trace two men seen acting suspiciously in Mr Desmier’s garden at about 3am on Thursday – shortly before his body was found.

Detective Superintendent Mark Ridley of the force’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team who is leading the investigation, said: “Mr Desmier was a very much-loved father and grandfather.

“His family are distraught.

“It is a tight-knit community here and a low crime area with very few burglaries.

“It is very possible that the people who are responsible live locally.

“We are working through the scene extremely meticulously and it is not clear at this stage what, if anything, is missing – although that is clearly an important line of inquiry for us.

“We do have evidence to suggest a burglary may have occurred at the property in the early hours of August 23 and that violence may have been used in Mr Desmier’s death.

“He has lived in this address for a number of years and has made a report of criminal damage to the police in the past.

“It’s possible he knew these two men. There were no signs of forced entry on the house, however it is possible that he left his door unsecured.

“We want to establish his movements leading up to this.

“I am appealing in particular for anyone who saw suspicious activity at the premises around 3am on Thursday, or believe they may know the identity of the two men seen acting suspiciously outside the property.”

Mr Desmier, a father-of-six, was well-known in the area and used to play guitar in several pubs and music venues across Bradford and Shipley.

The pensioner’s body was discovered at about 4pm on Thursday, and police and the ambulance service attended the scene shortly afterwards.

Yesterday, police had cordoned off the house while forensic officers combed the scene.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “I 
saw two men near his house 
late on Wednesday night and 
noticed his lights were still on 
and he hadn’t left the house the next day.

“I went over and knocked on his door but got no response so tried his neighbour.

“We went together and tried his door very lightly.

“It opened and you could see the full house had been ransacked.

“I didn’t want to go in but his neighbour did. She said he was sat in his chair with a pillow over his head. We phoned the police immediately.”

It is understood Mr Desmier had six children Paula, 43, Adele, 41, Nicki, 41, Carl, 40, Lorna, 27 and Becky, 25, as well as nine grandchildren.

Yesterday his daughter Lorna said: “I can’t believe he has been murdered. I just feel sick.

“His friend who lives opposite said something about seeing two lads in the early hours of the morning but anybody who was friends with my dad wouldn’t go round that late because he always goes to sleep early.

“I just can’t believe this.

“You never think something like this is going to happen to somebody you love.

“I just hope the police catch them before I do. I’m so angry.

“I think this is somebody who has targeted him because they know he lives on his own.

“People need to tell the police if they know anything. These men need to be caught.”

Anyone with any information is urged to contact the West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.