Police launch investigation after body of missing man found near Cheltenham

Police investigating the death of a man who had been reported missing from the Cheltenham area last month are appealing for anyone with information and dashcam footage to come forward.

Officers discovered the body of a man in a ditch by the side of Old Gloucester Road in Staverton at around 1.20pm on Sunday 3 May.

Formal identification has taken place, and it is believed to be that of 62-year-old Andy Reed, who had been reported missing from the Staverton area on Tuesday 28 April.

He was last seen at around 10pm on Saturday 25 April.

Due to the findings of a post-mortem examination, which revealed a number of unexplained injuries, investigating officers are now treating the death as unexplained and further enquires are ongoing.

Andy’s family has been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

Forensic, CCTV and house-to-house enquiries have taken place, and today (10 May) officers from the Specialist Operations team, Major Crime Investigation Team and Criminal Investigation Department have conducted further enquires and searches in the Staverton area.

Detective Inspector Paula Hannaford from Gloucestershire Constabulary's Criminal Investigation Department who is leading the investigation said: “Our thoughts remain with Andy’s family at this very difficult time and we are doing all we can to establish the full circumstances around Andy’s death.

“I am appealing to anyone with any information which might help us piece together what happened to Andy in the days he was missing to please get in touch with the Police.  

"I would like to hear from anyone who may have seen Andy walking or cycling along Old Gloucester Road in  Staverton between 10pm on Saturday 25 April and 1.20pm on Sunday 3 May.

"Andy may have been riding a blue woman’s Dutch style bike when he was last seen on Saturday 25 April, however the bike has not yet been located. 

"I am particularly keen for anyone reading this appeal who was driving along Old Gloucester Road between Saturday 25 April and Sunday 3 May who has access to dashcam footage to kindly review their footage for Andy and the outstanding bike.

“The bike has a bright blue/turquoise frame, a white saddle and metal rack above the rear tyre and is similar to the one pictured below.  

“I would also like to appeal to the wider community of Staverton and surrounding area to kindly review their doorbell and CCTV footage from that time period in case Andy has been captured.   

"Andy was around 6ft tall and of a slim build, with stubble facial hair and short dark brown hair which was thinning on the top.

"He was wearing a blue body warmer over a khaki green jumper, brown cords and he was carrying a black rucksack."

Information can be submitted online by using the following form and quoting incident 237 of 3 May: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/

Did you know you can report information anonymously through the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers? More information can be found here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously

Investigating officers are appealing for anyone who may have seen Andy (pictured above) on the Old Gloucester Road in Staverton to get in touch.

Officers are asking for the public's help to locate a blue Dutch style bike, similar to the one pictured above.