Open verdict over teenager death

An inquest on a teenager whose headless body was found in bushes a month after he went missing has recorded an open verdict.

Ashley Dighton, 19, was last seen on 11 June 2007 at a supermarket in Simone Weil Avenue, Ashford, Kent.

The inquest heard his body, which had been "interfered" with, was discovered near the store a month later.

Kent Police said they were still investigating the circumstances surrounding his "unexplained" death.

Ashford Coroner's Court was told Mr Dighton's body was found covered with branches and one of his ribs and his T-shirt had been removed and placed in a plastic bag.

"I can't believe that somebody has done this sort of thing"
Ambrose Dighton

Mr Dighton's body was so badly decomposed the pathologist could not determine a cause of death.

Following the inquest, Mr Dighton's father, Ambrose, said: "I still cry when I go to my son's grave.

"I can't believe that somebody has done this sort of thing.

"It's very hard not having the answers. We want to find out who has done this and why the person has done this."

Kent Police said although the force could not prove that he was murdered, because his body had been interfered with, they would continue their inquiries.

Det Ch Insp Dave Withers said: "We won't give up. It will be a case that is kept open.

"I think that someone out there knows what's happened. However Ashley has come to die there have been definite attempts to hide his body and as we heard in the inquest, removing his clothes when in an advanced state of decomposition. That's really unusual."

Family distraught

He added: "Ashley's family are distraught at the loss of their loving son and I ask that anyone who has any information thinks of their grief and comes forward to help us further our enquiries.

"All information will be treated sensitively and confidentially."

CCTV images showed Mr Dighton at the supermarket with a group of friends on the day he went missing.

When his body was found in July 2007 police said its location was on his route home from the store.

A three-week search of the wooded area involving about 100 officers followed.

Ambrose Dighton has issued a number of public appeals for information about his son's disappearance and death.

Mr Dighton had two tattoos - the word SKA on his right arm and the cartoon character Tweetie Pie on his left shoulder.

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