Mystery call in dead man inquiry

Detectives investigating a possible sighting of a Shropshire man found dead near a children's play area said today they had managed to track down a mystery caller.

But they said they were satisfied the man the caller reported seeing in the early hours of last Friday was not Neil Williams, who was found dead at the back of Churncote, Stirchley, minus his jacket, shoes, watch, phone and money later that morning.

Police had launched an appeal for the caller to get back in touch after he made an anonymous call from a phone box in the Brookside area of Telford and his money ran out.

Detectives had hoped his information would be a "massive" help in the investigation. Detective Sergeant Billy Scott said: "We have now traced the man who called in yesterday.

"We have managed to get hold of him and the information he was trying to pass on. We are satisfied it was not the deceased he saw in the early hours of the sixth."

Officers also carried out anniversary checks last night around the Randlay Farmhouse pub, where 41-year-old Mr Williams, from Calcott, Stirchley, was seen just before midnight on April 5, and around the area where he was found dead at 7.45am the following day.

Detectives do not know if Mr Williams, who has been described by his family as a "gentle giant", collapsed and died as he was robbed or if he was robbed as he lay helpless on the ground after collapsing for a medical reason.

His brother Paul, 45, appealed to the public to help catch the "vultures" who took Mr Williams's possessions.

Detective Inspector John Elcock, leading the investigation, said "rumours were rife" in the area, but people were not coming forward.

Mr Elcock said: "We need the source of these rumours to come forward and tell us how they know this information and then we can act on those details."

He said he remained convinced the key to solving the riddle of Mr Williams's death lay in the community.

Anybody with information is asked to call Crime-stoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or Telford police on 08457 444 888.

By Deborah Collins