A man with links to Teesside is being hunted by police investigating the brutal murder of a pensioner in Essex.
Essex Police to speak to Leighton Snook, 28, in connection with the murder of Donald Ralph in Aldham.
Mr Ralph, 83, was found dead at his home in Halstead Road in the Essex town shortly after 1pm on Tuesday.
Detectives say they believe the killing was the result of a targeted attack and urgently want to speak to Snook, from Colchester.
Snook has links across Essex but particularly Colchester, as well as connections to Hartlepool, County Durham, Hastings and Suffolk.
A 16-year-old boy from Leicester was arrested in Colchester on Wednesday in connection with the investigation.
He remains in custody for questioning on suspicion of murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Egerton, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “ We urgently need to speak to Leighton Snook in connection with the murder of Donald Ralph.
“I would strongly urge him, or anyone who knows of his whereabouts, to contact police.
“I ask members of the public not to approach him but to call police immediately.
“Anybody who is found to be assisting those involved in Mr Ralph’s murder in any way will be subject of a thorough investigation and could find themselves prosecuted for assisting an offender.”
Detectives are also continuing to look for Mr Ralph’s car, a blue Volvo V50 registration plate HD08 YFV (pictured below), which is missing from his house.
Enquiries show it was driven to Hastings on Tuesday morning.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police online at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/4201020120P56-PO1
Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or https://crimestoppers-uk.org.
