Police issue statement after comments made by PCC

Detectives have denied claims from their own police and crime commissioner that multiple human remains have been found in woodland at the centre of a murder investigation.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the body of one man had been recovered from woods at Sticker, near St Austell, and no other remains had been found.

Alison Hernandez made the comments on a policing panel earlier.

In a statement though the force confirm three separate murder investigations are ongoing - but no remains other than those of missing Daniel Coleman - had been found there.

39 year old James Desborough from Old Oak Woods has already been charged with murder.

Detective Superintendent Jon Bancroft said: “We currently have three separate murder investigations being conducted in the Cornwall area.

“I have oversight of all of these investigations at this time, and can confirm they are being carried out independently of each other and are not believed to be linked.

“I can categorically state that we have recovered remains believed to be those of Daniel Coleman only from an area of woodland in Sticker. No other remains have been located at this scene to date.”

Det Supt Bancroft added: “James Desborough has been charged with the murder of Daniel Coleman and will next appear before Truro Crown Court on 8 August.

“It is imperative that we continue to respect the integrity of the formal court process and ensure the administration of justice is not compromised in any way.

“We hope members of public understand that, for this reason, we cannot comment further on the defendant or the investigation.

“I would also urge people not to speculate on this case, particularly on social media, and risk prejudicing these proceedings.

“Publication of material which does so could lead to a criminal offence under the Contempt of Court Act.”