Cash cards used after body find

Alan Wood worked at the nearby Sainsbury's store

Several unsuccessful attempts were made to use cash cards belonging to a murder victim in the days after his body was found, detectives have revealed.

Alan Wood, 50, was found stabbed to death at his home in Lound, Lincolnshire, on Saturday afternoon.

Three unsuccessful attempts were made to withdraw cash from a NatWest machine in Stamford that weekend.

Police have asked people who noticed anyone acting suspiciously while using the machine to contact them.

'Possible injuries'

Det Supt Stuart Morrison said: "It seems that someone, possibly an offender, has made use of Alan Wood's credit and debit cards.

"Due to the nature of this incident we cannot rule out the possibility that the offender, or offenders, sustained cuts or injuries during the attack on the victim.

"Therefore there is a possibility that someone was displaying or carrying some kind of injury which may have been noticed by passers by when they were using the cash machines."

Mr Wood was last seen on 21 October.

Cash was withdrawn using his credit and debit cards the following day, between 2135 and 2150 BST, at the NatWest cash point on North Street, Bourne, and a Post Office machine on the same road.

At about 1515 BST on 23 October cash was again withdrawn from the NatWest cash point on High Street, Stamford.

Avid photographer

Three further attempts to access cash at the same bank after Mr Woods' body was found were unsuccessful. Two attempts were made between 0910 and 2120 BST on 24 October, and one at about 1500 BST the following day.

Mr Wood, an avid photographer, has been described as a placid person who "wouldn't hurt a fly".

He worked as a gardener and at the nearby Sainsbury's supermarket.

He was married to Joanne Wood, 44, for 17 years, but the couple separated five years ago.

Mrs Wood said: "He was the kind of man who would just do anything for anybody".

Maureen Wood, Alan's mother, said: "The brutal murder of this gentle man has devastated his family and friends.

"I cannot understand why anyone would want to hurt my son. The family and his friends are stunned and shocked."