Kentish Express Ashford & District
They’ve never even found my boy’s head
Police not doing enough, says dad of murdered teenager
The father of a murdered teenager says police should have done more to find the killer – but that he has not given up hope.
Ashley Dighton, 19, was last seen on June 11, 2007, at the Sainsbury’s Bybrook supermarket and his headless body was found in nearby woodland a month later, covered with branches.
One of his ribs and his T-shirt had been removed and placed in a plastic bag.
His father Ambrose, 59, said: “I am still hoping for a result on this but I just hope I am still alive to see it. The police haven’t done enough to find my son’s killer – they haven’t even found my boy’s head.”
Police said this week they would investigate any new lines of inquiry.
“The police haven’t done enough to find my son’s killer – they haven’t even found my boy’s head.”
Those are the words of the heartbroken father who has never found out what happened to his son.
Nineteen-year-old Ashley Dighton was last seen on June 11, 2007, at the Sainsbury’s Bybrook supermarket.
His family reported him missing and his headless body was found in woodland adjoining the nearby Warren Retail Park a month later.
Eight years later, his father Ambrose, 59, who lives in Newtown, said he is desperate for police to solve the mystery of his son’s death.
He said: “I am still hoping for a result on this but I just hope I am still alive to see it.
“I’m looking and waiting for the day that somebody is going to get caught for this.
“They are going to put them away, and not for a few years, but for life, so the only way they come out of prison is in a box.”
In a bid to find out what happened to his son, Mr Dighton has appealed through talk shows, magazines and even made an appearance on The Jeremy Kyle and Trisha Goddard shows.
But the teenager’s death remains a mystery and no one has ever been charged with his murder.
Mr Dighton added: “Somebody out there knows something, but they are not saying anything.
“It has just been so long now, it is about time that something came up.
“I don’t know anything else and I’ve not really been kept updated by the police. I know there has been nothing, no new information for years.
“But even if they don’t have anything new to tell me I still want to hear from them to know what’s going on. I would like to be kept in the loop more.”
Mr Dighton said the loss of his son has had a profound affect on his family.
He added: “It doesn’t get any easier. My Ashley was always in a good mood, always carefree.
“Losing Ashley really tore my family apart. In some ways it made us stronger but inside it had affected us very badly.
“All my kids miss their brother and until the person is found and we know who’s done it, we will not get any peace.”
An inquest into Mr Dighton’s death in December 2008 recorded an open verdict after the coroner heard that his badly decomposed body was found covered with branches.
Ashford Coroner’s Court also heard that one of his ribs and his T-shirt had been removed and placed in a plastic bag. His head has never been found.
A spokesman for Kent Police said there are no new developments in the case.
He added: “The case remains unsolved and, as with all undetected cases, we will actively investigate any new lines of inquiry.”
Anyone with any information is urged to contact police on 101. Alternatively call Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.