Body found in Wales confirmed as missing landlord

The body of a man found in north Wales belongs to missing Swansea man Alec Warburton, British police have confirmed.

The discovery was made in the village of Dolwyddelan on Sunday - just days after Mr Warburton’s lodger David Ellis (40) was arrested in Ireland.

Detectives had been trying to trace Mr Ellis for more than a month following the sudden disappearance of his landlord.

A police spokesman said: “The body located near the village of Dolwyddelan in north Wales on Sunday has been formally identified as that of 59-year-old Alec Warburton, from Swansea.

“A postmortem was conducted in north Wales yesterday, when identification procedures were carried out.

“Mr Warburton’s death is being treated as murder and we are continuing to offer support to his family at this difficult time.”

Retired electrical engineer Mr Warburton was last seen on July 31st.

He was reported missing two days later.

Police appeal

In the wake of his disappearance, police launched an appeal for information and said that Mr Warburton’s M-reg Peugeot 205 had been spotted in north Wales, before returning to Swansea.

The vehicle was subsequently found abandoned at Birkenhead port days later.

Officers then discovered that Mr Ellis had stepped off a ferry in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on August 6th.

That discovery prompted a fresh appeal for information. Welsh officers were also sent across to Ireland.

Mr Ellis was arrested in Ireland last Friday.

British police now hope to bring him back to Wales to face questioning in the coming days.

The spokesman said: “A European arrest warrant was granted earlier today in respect of Mr Ellis, which will be executed in Ireland prior to an extradition court hearing.”

PA