Police find body in search for island man

Published on Friday 26 June 2009 23:11

POLICE searching for a man who disappeared from his island home three weeks ago have found a body.

Officers believe the body is that of Robert Rose from Sanday in Orkney, who had not been seen since Saturday 6 June.

Formal identification has yet to take place. A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out today.

The disappearance of Mr Rose, 54, sparked a huge search on the island and family issued an emotional appeal for help to find him. But Northern Constabulary said a body was found shortly after 11pm on Thursday in the Conninghold area of Sanday.

His children, Chris, 28, Katie, 24, and James, 18, who had travelled to Orkney from England, have been told about the discovery. Earlier this week a man was charged with murder.

A Northern Constabulary spokesman said: "Police believe the body to be that of Mr Robert Rose. However, formal identification will be necessary before identity can be confirmed."

Mr Rose, a widower who had lived on Sanday for about a year, was reported missing on 8 June by a friend. Police, Coastguards, search specialists and dogs were involved in the hunt. Officers also conducted door-to-door inquiries on the island, which has a population of about 550.

Recent activity focused on a field and involved a forensic archaeologist, forensic scientists and a specialist search team. It was here the body was found. Mr Rose's Land Rover turned up at Sanday's ferry terminal.

Mr Rose, who reared alpacas, moved to Orkney from Yorkshire, where he was a builder. John Sinclair, landlord of the Belsair pub, said: "Bob was in the pub everyday, regular as clockwork. He was a true gentleman.

He had worked hard and moved to Sanday to chill out. He was very jovial and talked to everyone."

Police say they are close to completing the inquiry. Acting Inspector Gordon Deans said: "I would like to thank people on the island. They should now see a significant scaling down of our activities."

John Campbell, 59, appeared at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Monday where he was charged with murder. He made no plea and was remanded in custody.

Campbell and Stephen Crummack, both of Sanday, were charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Crummack, 50, also made no plea and was remanded.