UPDATE: Man Found In Van In Northumberland With No Memory Of How He Got There
6 January 2017, 09:13
Police are trying to work out how a man ended up in a van in Northumberland - with no memory of how he got there.
Update: 6th January
Police now say a man, found in the back of a van in Northumberland on Monday - had been tied up by his ankles and wrists.
It was reported at 3.38pm on Monday, January 2, that a man had been found in the back of a van by a member of the public.
The van was parked next to Low Leam Farm in West Woodburn between Hexham and Bellingham.
The man was found with some ties to his ankles and wrists but was in a confused state and unable to say how it had happened.
The 29-year-old man from the Durham area was taken to NSEC hospital in Cramlington as a precaution with a minor injury.
He does not recall anything after 2.30pm on New Year's Day when he was driving in the Durham area.
The van, a purple Mercedes Vito 109 CDI Compact panel van, registration NJ54VFB, had been spotted travelling northbound on the A1 on Monday, January 2 at 6.15am.
The van was then seen parked at the site in West Woodburn sometime around 7.30am the same morning.
The van was not damaged and had not been in a collision, and is being forensically examined.
Officers are working with the victim to establish the full circumstances of what has occurred and are keen to speak to anyone who may be able to help police with their enquiries.
Police would like to reassure the public that reports of such incidents are extremely unusual.
Any witnesses should contact Northumbria Police on 101 quoting reference 588 020117 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
***
Police were informed yesterday (January 2nd) that a man had been found in the back of a van in West Woodburn between Hexham and Bellingham. The 29-year-old was not injured but was taken to hospital as a precaution.
The man does not have any recollection of how he came to be in Northumberland and police are carrying out enquiries to establish what happened.
It is believed the van, a purple Mercedes Vito 109 CDI Compact panel van, registration NJ54VFB, was parked at the site sometime between 2am and 7.30am that morning.
Officers are keen to speak to anyone who saw the van either parked in West Woodburn or earlier in the day.
Any witnesses should contact Northumbria Police on 101 quoting reference 588 020117 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
