Man questioned over double murder (From The Oxford Times)

Man questioned over double murder

6:59am Monday 30th April 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Police are continuing to question a man who went on the run after being accused of murdering two people in separate attacks.

James Allen was arrested after he was spotted in the street by an off-duty police officer in Leeds on Sunday.

It follows a large-scale manhunt for the 36-year-old who was wanted on suspicion of the murders of 81-year-old Colin Dunford, in Middlesbrough, and Julie Davison, 50, in Whitby.

The officer, who was driving to work, recognised Allen and watched him for several minutes until his colleagues arrived to help and chased him on foot before arresting him on Crown Point Road at around 7.20am.

Cleveland Police and North Yorkshire Police issued an urgent appeal to find Allen on Thursday after police linked the two deaths, and West Yorkshire Police became the third force to join the hunt after sightings of the suspect were reported in Leeds on Friday. Allen is now being questioned in West Yorkshire over the two murders.

Temporary Detective Chief Superintendent Gordon Lang praised the officer for an "excellent piece of police work". He also thanked members of the public for their "fantastic" response to the appeal and asked anyone with further information, particularly in connection to the route possibly taken by Allen from Middlesbrough to Leeds, to come forward.

He said he wanted to find out details such as where Allen had been during the week and who he had seen. "It's important we fill in those gaps," he said.

Cleveland Police launched a murder investigation after Mr Dunford was found dead at his terraced house in Leven Street, Middlesbrough, last Monday. A post-mortem examination on Mr Dunford, who was last seen alive at around 5pm last Sunday, showed he had suffered serious head injuries as a result of a significant assault. Detectives said there was no sign of forced entry at the house

Ms Davison, 50, who lived alone, was found dead by her sister at her rented flat in Church Square, Whitby, on Wednesday. She had also suffered serious head injuries, police said.

Allen, who is originally from Blackpool, is believed to have known Mr Dunford when he lived next door to him in Leven Street about a year ago but it is not thought Allen knew Ms Davison.