CCTV released of murders suspect (From Epsom Guardian)

CCTV released of murders suspect

3:12pm Saturday 28th April 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Police hunting for a man suspected of killing two people in their own homes have released new CCTV images.

The pictures show 35-year-old James Allen in Scarborough during the last week.

Allen is being urgently sought by police following the separate murders of Julie Davison, 50, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, and 81-year-old Colin Dunford in Middlesbrough.

Speaking at a news conference in Middlesbrough, temporary Detective Chief Superintendent Gordon Lang said the images showed Allen appeared to be growing his hair to change his appearance. Mr Lang said: "The photographs will show James Allen throughout the course of the week, caught on camera and show signs of hair growing through at both sides of his head. He was described as bald but there's now clear signs of hair growing."

The images show Allen in a number of locations, including a sports shop, in Scarborough on Wednesday and Thursday. Mr Lang confirmed Allen stayed in a bed and breakfast, thought to be the Allerton Croft Hotel, in the seaside town on Wednesday night. He said the guest house had been treated as a crime scene.

The hunt for Allen is now focused on Leeds after a confirmed sighting of him in the city. West Yorkshire Police said CCTV footage had now been used to confirm a sighting in the Harehills area of Leeds was the wanted man.

A statement from the force said Allen was seen walking along Harehills Lane at 4.41pm on Friday. Anyone who has seen Allen or has information which could help police is asked to contact West Yorkshire Police on the non emergency number 101. The statement repeated that he is considered dangerous and should not be approached.

Mr Lang said it was possible that someone was sheltering Allen and urged that person to contact police. "This is not a time for loyalty. There can be no loyalty at a time like this. This is the time to help the police," he said. "Now is the time to be public spirited."

The detective issued a further message to Allen to hand himself in. "Give yourself up. Give yourself up now. You need to be in police custody, you know you need to be in police custody, you know what you've done," he said. "I think purely and simply by the tragic events that have unfolded, this is a man who cannot be at large, who needs to be arrested and that needs to happen as quickly as possible."

Mr Lang said Cleveland Police had received a good response to appeals, with hundreds of calls from members of the public. He said: "We continue to receive reports of sightings of James Allen in the Cleveland and North Yorkshire areas. Those reports are being actioned and followed up as we speak. There has been police activity in both force areas."