Officers searching for missing Washington man Lesley Barrass have found a body.
Lesley was last seen leaving the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead at about 6.50pm on Monday evening (March 27), when he spoke briefly to a member of his family on the phone. However, he failed to return to his Columbia home and officers subsequently launched an appeal for information.
Police since carried out a range of enquiries to locate Lesley, but a body was found in the Birtley Road area of Washington on Wednesday. Formal identification is yet to take place but officers to believe the body is that of Lesley.
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His family have been notified and are being offered support. Police do not believe there to be any third party involvement in his death and a report will be made for the Coroner.
Detective Chief Superintendent Lyn Peart of Northumbria Police said: "This is a terribly sad outcome and is an update that we did not want to deliver. Our thoughts are with Lesley’s loved ones as they attempt to come to terms with what has happened.
"We will offer them any support they need and I’d ask that everyone respects their privacy. I would like to thank everyone who played their part in the search for Lesley – including the officers and staff out looking for him and the wider community who shared our appeal.
"We are sad that we couldn’t bring you a more positive update."
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