Investigative Ideas - North Sea Man

locate-admin

You can help solve a murder investigation by simply thinking about any 6’4″-6’6″ (193-198cm) white male you may have lost contact with. A man was found weighted down in the North Sea in July 1994, having suffered a catastrophic blow to the side of the head and rib cage.

This is an ongoing investigation led by the specialist homicide team in Wilhemshaven, Germany.

As a result of isotope analysis that has been carried out on the unidentified man, we are able to announce that the lead isotope data was able to rule out that the man is originally from Europe. The unknown deceased is very likely to have grown up and spent most of his life in Australia.

Read the full case details here: https://locate.international/appeals/north-sea-man

LiziAngel

The picture is correct, but the description is for Sligo Man, not North Sea Man/The Gentleman. Can this be changed?

I listened to 'The Gentleman' The Missing podcast a couple of weeks ago. One detail that is mentioned is that the man was weighted down by cobblers weights, which got me thinking about possible connections with his footwear.

Northampton has a long history of shoemaking. Church & Co Limited (Church's) is a high-end footwear manufacturer that was founded in 1873 by Thomas Church in Northampton. In 1999 the company was bought by Prada. At the time, Dinkie Heel PLC was a health and safety consultancy specialising in safety clothing and equipment and the manufacture of associated footwear components. Address: Unit 1, St. Ivel Way, Bristol BS30 8TY. Telephone: 0117-303 3400.

Dinkie Heel PLC also had two operations in Northampton making EVA flooring products for the equestrian and dairy industries. I believe these were Davies & Co and Odell Components. Now Davies Odell Ltd, a distributor of rubber-based products designed for the footwear repair, matting and body armor markets, acquired by Vale Brothers in 2020. Corporate Office at Portland Road, Rushden NN10 0DJ. Vale Brothers went into administration in 2023 under CEPS PLC https://cepsplc.com/about-us/history/

Dinkie Heel PLC was in operation from 19 August 1982 to 27 June 2005, when it became CEPS PLC, registered office address: 11 Laura Place, Bath BA2 4BL. CEPS PLC’s Companies House filing history can be found here: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00507461/filing-history?page=9 There were three documents filed in 1994 when it was Dinkie Heel PLC including an Auditor's resignation on 14 January. This document is available to purchase for £3.

It might be a bit of a leap, but could The Gentleman/North Sea Man have been Dinkies' Auditor? Perhaps he didn't actually 'resign'? His body was said to have been in the sea for around 6 months, so the time fits with the Auditor's resignation. The resignation document should provide the Auditor's name, and perhaps the names of other associates of the company at the time.

There is also Dinkie Heel PLC '1939-1991: minutes and photographs' listed on the National Archives website https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F165288

angela-locateinternational

LiziAngel
Thank you very much for all the information you have supplied about North Sea Man's footwear and a possible suggested ID. I am team lead for this case and we shall certainly follow up your suggestions. I am glad to say that Prada who now own Church's have been very helpful when we have asked them about the possible date of manufacture of NSM's shoes.

locate-admin

Hi there - thank you for flagging the error with the text. That’s now been corrected.

@angela-locateinternational will take a look at your message too.

Thanks again for engaging with the forum, we’re really pleased to have heard from you!

LiziAngel

angela-locateinternational Great that Prada have been helpful with a date of manufacture for his shoes.

I've found out who the Auditor for Dinkie Heel PLC was - Wyatt Pakeman Partners Chartered Accountants, so a firm rather than an individual. They sent a letter of resignation to the Directors of Dinkie Heel PLC on 21st December 1993. Maybe there is still a connection though. Geoffrey Charles Martin was the Company Secretary of Dinkie at the time and by 1996 he is also listed as the company's Chartered Accountant and held directorships with Phillips Rubber and Dinkie (USA) Inc. He is still active as (what is now) CEPS' Chartered Accountant. There is a publicly available return for 1996 that lists all the directors, managers, etc., nine individuals in all - see '1 Jul 1996 Return made up to 01/06/96' at https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00507461/filing-history?page=9 I The company seemed to have fingers in a lot of pies even back then!

LiziAngel

angela-locateinternational I have found someone who was a Sales Manager for Dinkie Heel PLC between 1992 and 1999. Could it be worth asking him if he remembers coming into contact with North Sea Man? I will forward his contact information via the appeals email address for you.

angela-locateinternational

LiziAngel Thank you for this and your earlier post. Please send the information in via email and we will look at it. Thank you for your research which is very helpful.

angela-locateinternational

The story of NSM is featured in the C4 programme in UK to be aired on 6 August at 21:00. Please watch and help return his identity to this man who has been nameless for 30 years.