The Alan Wood Murder Investigation
Alan Wood was bound, tortured and mutilated at his home in the tiny rural Hamlet of Lound, near Bourne in Lincolnshire, in October 2009. Police know that his bank cards were stolen and used in Bourne and nearby Stamford over the following couple of days. The criminal or criminals involved, despite the use of this extraordinary level of violence, walked away with just a few hundred pounds. And beyond a possible financial motive, it is still not known why the most disturbing crime in Lincolnshire in recent history was committed.
Alan was well known and liked in his tight-knit community and had no known enemies.
Detectives at Lincolnshire Police are still working on the case and they want as many people as possible to review the evidence and get in touch with information.
Detectives at Lincolnshire Police are still working on the case and they want as many people as possible to review the evidence and get in touch with information.
- Do you have information that could help them?
- Do you know who killed Alan Wood?
There is a £50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in this case.
About Alan Wood
Enjoyed the simple things in life
Alan Wood was known to his family and friends as a contented, laid back, easy going and gentle man who worked hard and enjoyed the simple things in life.
The 50-year-old was born in Gillingham but spent a large part of his life at his family home in Careby with his Parents, Jim, who passed away in 1998 and Maureen Wood (74), who now lives in Stamford, along with his sisters, Janice, who also lives in Stamford and Sylvia, who lives in France.
When Alan left school he went to work with his father in the printing business and later got a job at Warners in Bourne.
He was made redundant from Warners and wanted a new direction in life. He decided to turn one of his hobbies and passions in life, gardening, into a career.
First he went to work at Rassells Nursery in Little Bytham and he later had a spell at Barnsdale Gardens. Eventually Alan set up his own garden maintenance business, Gardens TLC, which he continued till his death.
The 50-year-old also started working at Sainsburys in Bourne in 2006 to supplement his income during the winter months. He was extremely well liked there and he enjoyed the camaraderie of the night shift.
He was the kind of man who would just do anything for anybody
Alan was married to Joanne Wood (47) for 17 years and although they separated in 2003, they remained on good terms.
Mrs Wood, a legal executive who lives in Peterborough, said: "Even though we had separated, Alan would still come and look after my garden. He was the kind of man who would just do anything for anybody".
Alan was a loving uncle to Janice's children, Rebecca (23) and Fiona (20) and Sylvia's children, Joe (21) and Paul (19). He thoroughly enjoyed taking his niece Rebecca to rock concerts, which she said he secretly enjoyed as much as she did.
Mr Wood's social life centred around The Willoughby Arms in Little Bytham, where he could often be found sitting at the bar with a pint and a packet of peanuts, tapping away to himself and chatting to his friends. He especially enjoyed the live music and beer festivals and would often help out behind the bar.
Alan loved photography and took wedding pictures for some of his friends, although he preferred the "old fashioned" cameras, to the latest digital technology. His other passion was motorbikes, his favourite being a black Triumph Speed Triple, which he had for several years.
I cannot understand why anyone would want to hurt my son.
Maureen Wood, Alan's mother, said: "Alan was friendly, placid and wouldn't hurt a fly. The brutal murder of this gentle man has devastated his family and friends. I cannot understand why anyone would want to hurt my son. The family and his friends are stunned and shocked."
Suspect - ATM Man
It was established early in the investigation that Alan's bank cards had been used in Bourne and Stamford over a couple of days after his murder. A trawl of thousands of hours of CCTV revealed "ATM man" - the prime suspect. He is picked up on a number of occasions on the footage below.
Enhanced Images
Scientists have enhanced some of the still images of the footage to give us these pictures.
ATM Man Offender Profile
- 5ft 9in to 5ft 11in tall
- He seems to be dressed in a "smart casual" manner. From the CCTV images we have he appears to be wearing a distinctive striped scarf
- Previously unreleased CCTV footage appears to show the offender smoking.
- We believe he uses, or has used Delaine buses.
- We believe he may wear Converse trainers.
- He has local knowledge - demonstrated by seemingly deliberate avoidance of the CCTV systems in Bourne and Stamford. Use of Delaine buses also increases the likelihood of being local or having local knowledge.
- He has an unusual walk. Experts outside the force have analysed CCTV footage and come to the conclusion that that he limps due to his right leg being slightly longer than his left leg. The offender may or may not be aware of this condition.
- One offender would have been injured after the crime as his blood was found at the scene. That injury could be to his hand.
- Around the time of the crime the offender may have had a few hundred pounds more than normal.
Give Information
Telephone
(+44) 1529 308612
Telephone Anonymously
Call Crimestoppers on (+44) 800 555 111
Online Form
£50,000 Reward
Reward for information that leads to the conviction of Alan's killers
Alan's employers at the time of his death, Sainsburys, have been extremely supportive of the police investigation from the start.
Along with accommodating officers talking to their customers in their shops and showing appeal videos in stores in Lincolnshire - they have also put up a staggering £50,000 for information leading to the conviction of Alan's killers.
