Inquest years after man disappeared

THE sister of a man who disappeared 19 years ago has made a fresh appeal for information after an inquest was told he may have been murdered.

Wendy Dixon, whose brother Bruce Gapper has not been seen since March 1999, spoke out after a coroner took the unusual step of holding an inquest in a case where there is no body.

Assistant coroner Oliver Longstaff, whose office sought special permission from the Chief Coroner’s office to hold the inquest, said he hadn’t dealt with a case like it in his career as a coroner.

Mr Longstaff said Mr Gapper’s disappearance was shrouded in “uncertain and mysterious circumstances.”

The hearing in Bradford was told that Mr Gapper’s car was found burnt out at Castle Hill, Huddersfield, and his bank account had been emptied by someone using ATMs at three separate locations.

Mrs Dixon, in a statement to the court, described her brother’s early career as a driver in the RAF and later as a driver with Dukes Transport in Huddersfield.

She said he had been married twice but in 1999 he was a bachelor whose social life centred on the Batley Frontier nightclub.

He had been a recreational user of ecstasy and amphetamine but wasn’t a habitual user and did not have a criminal record, the inquest was told.

Mrs Dixon described her brother as “gullible”, saying: “It appeared he lent money to so-called friends which had gone wrong. I would describe him as gullible.”

She said he would share his PIN number with close friends on nights out.

Mrs Dixon said she does not believe her brother is still alive.

Her husband John Dixon described Mr Gapper, of Dewsbury Moor, as “naive and trusting and easily led”.

Supt Mark McManus, who has previously reviewed the case for West Yorkshire Police, said Mr Gapper’s bank card had been used firstly in Heckmondwike, then in Scarisbrick, just outside Stockport, and then in the Morley area.

The final transaction was for just £10 on March 18 – which had emptied the bank account.

Mr McManus told the hearing that Mr Gapper had loaned £2,000 to two friends, Nicola Whitworth and her partner Leo Hepworth.

Mr Hepworth had been a bouncer at the Batley Frontier nightclub and Ms Whitworth was a nurse.

The loan was for a deposit on a house and had been handed over a few weeks before Mr Gapper disappeared.

The pair were later arrested on suspicion of murder, the inquest was told. They denied any involvement and were released without charge.

Supt McManus said the alleged house purchase fell through and the £2,000 was spent on other things.

“No money had been repaid at that point and still hasn’t.”

Mr McManus said a garden where Nicola Whitworth and Leo Hepworth were living in Wakefield was dug up by police after it came to light that there had been a bad smell.

Police discovered the remains of a dog, the inquest heard.

Detectives discounted the possibility that Mr Gapper had killed himself as he hadn’t arranged care for a much-loved cat and had recently done a weekly food shopping trip.

Recording an open conclusion, assistant coroner Oliver Longstaff said that there wasn’t enough evidence to rule that Mr Gapper had been unlawfully killed.

After the hearing Mrs Dixon said the inquest gave “some sort of closure” and added: “I still believe there are people who may know something. I would ask that they come forward.”

Her husband John said: “If someone has covered up for somebody maybe in future they can come forward.”

Police said the case remained open.