Police plea to track trail of murder suspect

POLICE investigating two separate murders have appealed for help in tracking the suspect’s movements over the last week.

James Allen, 36, was arrested on Sunday morning in Leeds following the murders last week of Colin Dunford, 81, in Middlesbrough and Julie Davison, 50, in Whitby.

Police confirmed Allen, originally from Blackpool but living recently in Middlesbrough, is being questioned on suspicion of the two murders and a sexual assault.

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Detectives have been trying to piece together Allen’s movements in the last week when he is believed to have been in Whitby, Scarborough and Leeds.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Smith, who is leading the North Yorkshire Police investigation, appealed for people to check bins, gardens and out-buildings for signs of anyone living rough.

“It is vital to our investigation that we piece together the suspect’s movements over the past week, I am therefore reiterating the appeal for anyone who believes they have seen the suspect as he travelled across the region to contact us if they have not already done so,” he said.

The new appeal came as Ms Davison’s family released a statement saying she was “one of the kindest people you could ever wish to know”.

“She did not deserve to die in such terrible circumstances,” it said.

“We are so very sad that her hopes of building a new life back in her home town of Whitby ended so tragically.”