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Canterbury: Police release computer generated image of man found dead in field off Hollow Lane, Wincheap

14:56, 24 February 2017

A computer generated image of a man found dead in a farmer’s field has been released today in an effort to identify him.

Detectives stumped by the mystery have taken the unusual step of circulating the picture three weeks after the body was found near Canterbury.

The shock discovery was made by a dog walker on the morning of February 3 in a field off Hollow Lane, Wincheap, near the A2 crossover.

Police have released this computer generated image of a man found dead in Canterbury
Police have released this computer generated image of a man found dead in Canterbury

Investigators are working on a number of theories, including the possibility the man had travelled down to Canterbury from London and become disorientated.

He had on him a small black suitcase, an unregistered Oyster card and a book on clinical theology.

No identification was found and his fingerprints were not on file.

Police taped off an alley near the field
Police taped off an alley near the field

Tests have yet to establish how he died, but police remain convinced there are no suspicious circumstances.

A postmortem examination has been carried out, with tests expected to reveal if the man’s death was from natural causes or linked to hypothermia.

DI Tracy Anstis said: “As part of our inquiries we have liaised with the National Crime Agency’s Missing Persons Bureau, but so far no one matching his description has been reported missing.”

The man had a Clinical Theology book on him
The man had a Clinical Theology book on him

She added that discovering the Oyster card had turned the attention of detectives to the capital.

She said: “It suggests he may have had links to London, and one line of inquiry is that he was from the Walthamstow area.

“One theory is that he was visiting Canterbury and may have become disorientated.”

Belongings were found in a cabin case
Belongings were found in a cabin case

The man is described as white and in his mid 50s to late 60s. He had short white hair and a short white beard.

He was of a slim to skinny build and was between 5ft 5in and 5ft 6in.

DI Anstis says she would like to speak to anyone who has not recently heard from a relative or neighbour matching the man’s description.

She said: “We are keen to trace his last movements and establish if he was staying locally.

“Someone, somewhere, must know who this person is, and we urge them to contact us.”

If you can help, call police on 101, quoting reference number 03-0188.

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