THE mother of murder victim Alan Lee Street has made an emotional plea to help find her son’s killers.

Anne Bennett made her tearful appeal in a bid to help police find Mr Street’s body and track down the men wanted for questioning.

Mrs Bennett, 55, who lives in Oswaldtwistle, said: "Without finding out what really happened to him, I will never be able to lay him to rest.

"I knew the moment CID officers turned up at my door that he was dead. I just knew.

"I just hope the police will find his body so my whole family can get closure.

"Yet without the help of the public, I am not convinced the police will ever find his body.

"It would be my worst nightmare not to find him."

Mrs Bennett, who admitted a rift had developed between her and her son, concluded: "What I regret the most is that I never made my peace with him and now I never will be able to."

It was revealed this week that police launched their investigation after an anonymous tip-off, which led them to find bloodstained clothes in a blood-soaked room in Stockbridge Road, Padiham, on 21 December.

Despite numerous appeals to the community for information about the whereabouts of the owner of the property, lorry driver Alan Palmer, 43, and his brother-in-law Peter Leonard, 51, of Arncliffe Avenue, Accrington, the response has been disappointing.

Detective Superintendent Neil Hunter, leading the investigation, said: "We have not had the calls from the public that we would have liked. I’m sure there’s information in the community – it’s just having the key to unlock that information.

"From what we have received, it is clear that people have been harbouring and protecting the men we want to speak to.

"If anyone chooses this course of action then they will be arrested and could face serious criminal charges. If they wish to avoid being arrested then I would strongly advise them to come forward with any information they have."

Convicted rapist Mr Street, 26, of Lime Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, is believed to have been the victim of a "sustained, vicious and prolonged attack" in the front room of the two-bedroomed terrace.

When the Observer visited the house pools of blood were still visible on the carpet and sofas, despite all the cushions and covers having been taken away for forensic examination.

Empty beer cans were strewn across the room, there was a child’s pram and teddy bear and blood was also visible on the walls.

A silver blue Mitsubishi Colt which the police had been looking for, was found in a residents’ car park off Annie Street, Accrington, just after midnight last Tuesday.

Detective Superintendent Hunter said: "The car was recovered for forensic investigations and on Tuesday officers were told that the blood found in the car boot belonged to Mr Street.

"We believe his body was in the back of the car at some point. The vehicle has been used to transport the body away from the scene in Padiham for burial or some other form of disposal."

Police are still searching for Alan Palmer and Peter Leonard.

Mr Palmer is described as white, 5’ 11" tall, of medium build with a receding skinhead with dark hair.

He has brown eyes and several tattoos on his left arm of a snake head, bull, eagle snake and swallow. On his right arm he also has a snake and skull, and two flower designs with Mam and Lucky with a swallow.

Mr Leonard is described as white, around 5’ 8" tall, of medium build with blue eyes and light brown hair cropped very short. He has a two-inch scar on his nose and Love tattooed on the knuckles of his left had with Heidi on the back of his left hand.

Anyone with information should contact police on 01282 425001 or Crimestop-pers on 0800 555 111.


* Kieran Davison, 20, of Stockbridge Road, Padiham, appeared before Burnley Magistrates Court on Christmas Eve charged with murder. He was remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on 18 March.