Murder inquiry centred on estate (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Murder inquiry centred on estate

10:14am Friday 27th April 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Police hunting for a 35-year-old man wanted in connection with two brutal murders are involved in an "ongoing operation" on a housing estate.

Cleveland Police confirmed a number of officers were involved in the operation in the Pallister Park area of Middlesbrough as part of the huge effort to find James Allen.

More than 100 officers are now looking for Allen following the deaths of Colin Dunford in Middlesbrough on Monday and Julie Davison in Whitby, North Yorkshire, on Wednesday.

Allen is known to police and members of the public are urged not to approach him but to dial 999. A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said no further details were available about the operation in the Pallister Park area.

Detectives described the killings as "two brutal murders in the victims' own homes". Cleveland Police and North Yorkshire Police issued a joint appeal to find Allen after officers linked the two deaths.

Ms Davison, 50, who lived alone, was found dead by her sister at her rented flat in Church Square. She had suffered serious head injuries, police said. North Yorkshire Police said they wanted a man with a dark-coloured mountain bike to come forward after he was seen near the flats at around 6.30am on Wednesday.

A post-mortem examination on Mr Dunford, 81, showed he had also suffered serious head injuries as a result of a significant assault. He was found dead at his terrace house in Leven Street, Middlesbrough, on Monday after he failed to appear at his favourite club.

Detectives said there was no sign of forced entry at the house. Mr Dunford was last seen alive at around 5pm on Sunday.

Temporary Detective Chief Superintendent Gordon Lang, head of crime operations for Cleveland Police, said on Thursday: "Anyone who can carry out such callous acts needs to be caught as a matter of urgency. We have over 100 officers working on the incident to trace Allen and we are focusing our efforts in Cleveland and in the Whitby area of North Yorkshire."

Allen is described as 5ft 7in, with a bald head and tattoos on both arms.