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Wanted tycoon 'spotted at marina' | Wanted tycoon 'spotted at marina' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A businessman at the centre of an international manhunt was spotted at a boatyard in Surrey the day after his Polish girlfriend was found dead. | |
Ian Griffin, 39, has been missing since Kinga Legg's battered body was found at Hotel Le Bristol in Paris on Tuesday. | Ian Griffin, 39, has been missing since Kinga Legg's battered body was found at Hotel Le Bristol in Paris on Tuesday. |
Cheshire Police found a Porsche 911 at a property connected to Mr Griffin and have urged him to come forward. | Cheshire Police found a Porsche 911 at a property connected to Mr Griffin and have urged him to come forward. |
Surrey Police are investigating reports from employees who reported seeing him at Shepperton Marina on Wednesday. | |
The couple keep a high-powered speed boat at the marina, according to staff. | |
If Ian Griffin is in the north west we would urge him to make contact with police Cheshire Police spokeswoman | |
Worker Ben Clarke told the BBC he saw Mr Griffin get out of a taxi parked in one of the bays in front of the building. | |
"He came out and walked passed our office into the chandlery next door. And I saw him again when he came back out. | |
Asked what he thought about the manhunt, Mr Clarke replied: "[I'm a] bit shocked really because they seemed a pretty solid genuine couple. | |
"He told us that he wasn't going to be here much because he was in Poland a lot with Kinga with the business. | |
"And they just seemed pretty, really genuine - just everyday people." | |
Administrator Billy Leisengang saw Mr Griffin leaving the marina in a taxi. | |
The couple's boat remains moored at the marina | |
"Later, when I heard about what happened in Paris, it was a great shock," he said. | |
"I had met Ian a few times and Kinga once. They were very decent people, the sort of people we like to have here at the marina." | |
Surrey Police have confirmed they are investigating the sightings, which they said were among several across England. | |
Officers were made aware of his suspected visit by local businesses alerted by media coverage of Mr Griffin's 36-year-old girlfriend's death. | Officers were made aware of his suspected visit by local businesses alerted by media coverage of Mr Griffin's 36-year-old girlfriend's death. |
Cheshire Police, who are supporting French authorities in the international hunt for Mr Griffin, have also been searching properties related to the businessman. | Cheshire Police, who are supporting French authorities in the international hunt for Mr Griffin, have also been searching properties related to the businessman. |
On Sunday, they said a number of his associates had also been traced and interviewed by officers, but that Mr Griffin remained at large. | On Sunday, they said a number of his associates had also been traced and interviewed by officers, but that Mr Griffin remained at large. |
Police plea | Police plea |
"If Ian Griffin is in the north west we would urge him to make contact with police, either in Cheshire or elsewhere in the region," a spokeswoman said. | "If Ian Griffin is in the north west we would urge him to make contact with police, either in Cheshire or elsewhere in the region," a spokeswoman said. |
Polish-born Ms Legg checked into the £1,000-a-night hotel on Monday. Mr Griffin arrived later. | Polish-born Ms Legg checked into the £1,000-a-night hotel on Monday. Mr Griffin arrived later. |
His girlfriend's body was found by a cleaner the following day. | His girlfriend's body was found by a cleaner the following day. |
French police said she had died from "internal bleeding caused by multiple blows". | French police said she had died from "internal bleeding caused by multiple blows". |
Ms Legg was found dead in the hotel room by a cleaner | |
There may have been up to 12 hours between Mr Griffin leaving the Bristol in his Porsche and Miss Legg's body being found in the bathroom of their suite, police said. | There may have been up to 12 hours between Mr Griffin leaving the Bristol in his Porsche and Miss Legg's body being found in the bathroom of their suite, police said. |
Mr Griffin, originally from Warrington, previously lived in Knutsford with Ms Legg and had several businesses listed in Cheshire. | Mr Griffin, originally from Warrington, previously lived in Knutsford with Ms Legg and had several businesses listed in Cheshire. |
In 2006 he was declared bankrupt at Warrington County Court. | In 2006 he was declared bankrupt at Warrington County Court. |
Two plain-clothes officers from Cheshire Police were stationed outside his parents' home in Delph Lane, Winwick, on Friday. | Two plain-clothes officers from Cheshire Police were stationed outside his parents' home in Delph Lane, Winwick, on Friday. |
Ms Legg owned international company Vegex, which supplied Tesco and other supermarkets with tomatoes. | Ms Legg owned international company Vegex, which supplied Tesco and other supermarkets with tomatoes. |
The company has a site in Oxshott, Surrey - where the couple also shared a home - and Opatówek, Poland. | The company has a site in Oxshott, Surrey - where the couple also shared a home - and Opatówek, Poland. |