Wife and daughter arrested over bookies' death nine years after disappearance

12 April 2012

The wife and daughter of a retired bookmaker were being questioned about his murder today nearly nine years after he went missing from his London home.

Don Banfield, a former William Hill shop manager, who was 63 at the time, disappeared without trace from his home in Harrow in 2001.

Shirley Banfield, 62, and her daughter Lynette, 38, were arrested after a Cold Case review into the disappearance of Mr Banfield.

Scotland Yard detectives announced today they were treating the case as murder though searches of his former home has failed to find any trace of his body.

Police re-opened the case several months ago after a new analysis of his accounts revealed "financial irregularities."

They are understood to have examined his savings details and pension.

Mr Banfield went missing shortly after retiring as a William Hills betting shop manager after previously working for the BBC in its accounts department.

Two months after he disappeared, his wife Shirley sold their house for £179,000 and moved from London to Kent.

The wife and daughter were arrested at their home in Canterbury yesterday and were being interviewed at separate police stations in Kent this afternoon.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Groves, who is leading the inquiry, said: "Nearly nine years on we are reiterating appeals to trace missing Don Banfield.

"We now treating the case as a murder inquiry until we can prove otherwise or Mr Banfield comes forward."

Four months ago police used diggers and other specialist equipment to search the old family address in Lockett Road, Harrow, digging up the back garden.

Despite using ground-seeking radar and archaeologists no human remains were discovered.

Anyone with information should call 020 8247 7821 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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