Officers follow up fugitive sightings

Officers on the trail of 40-year-old Leslie Cunningham yesterday searched addresses across West Yorkshire after receiving the calls – but last night the fugitive remained at large.

Also yesterday, the 55-year-old mother was said to be in a stable condition in hospital while her 25-year-old daughter was reportedly responding well to treatment for her injuries.

Both women suffered multiple stab wounds in the incident in Bar Lane in the Garforth area of Leeds shortly after 8am on Tuesday.

Local residents have named the victims as Angela Gardener and her daughter Stephanie.

Detective Chief Inspector Dean Henson, from West Yorkshire Police’s homicide and major enquiry team (HMET), said: “We have received a number of phone calls from the public providing us with information on Leslie Cunningham and including a number of possible sightings.

“We are in the process of working through that information and I would continue to ask members of the public to be on the look out for this man.”

Officers declined to confirm details of the searches or the possible sightings for operational reasons.

However they repeated their appeal for anyone with information about Cunningham or his whereabouts to contact them.

DCI Henson said several officers remained in Garforth patrolling the area and reassuring residents.

Cunningham – who is also known as “Jevons” or Leslie Jevons – is described as white, 6ft 2in tall, of athletic build, with a half-inch horizontal scar under his right eye.

Officers consider him dangerous and have warned people not to approach him.

The inquiry team’s hotline is 0845 606 0606.