THE teenage daughter of murdered Mark Bradbury ‘dreads’ the first Christmas without her dad as his killer remains at large.

Mr Bradbury was found dead at his home in Padgate in August, having suffered ‘significant’ head injuries.

But more than three months on, no charges have yet been brought over the 58-year-old’s killing.

Now, his daughter Hannah is pleading for anyone who has information over her dad’s death to come forward – while detectives have also revealed that the killer is believed to have stolen Mr Bradbury’s watch after the ‘brutal attack’.

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Hannah Bradbury on her prom night with dad Mark, pictured wearing his missing watch

Nineteen-year-old Hannah said: “It’s been a really difficult time but we can’t change what’s happened, as much as everybody wants to.

“It’s absolutely devastating to think that somebody could be out there enjoying their Christmas, while I’ve just got this really horrible dread that it’s the first Christmas without my dad.

“He really did adore Christmas and New Year and celebrating the holidays – it’s not fair, and it’s difficult to think about it when Christmas is right around the corner.

“Being aged 19, it’s just a horrendous thing – my heart goes out to anyone else who has lost their dad at a young age when they’ve been close, because it’s just not the way it should be.

“The circumstances are unbelievable – you never think it’s going to happen to you, then it does and it’s awful.

“As difficult as it may be for people to think that they can come forward, it’s so easy – at this point anything can help, and we really need somebody that can give my family a bit of hope.

“It’s extremely important for us to get closure as a family and to find the person responsible for taking away such a kind and generous man who had a lot of time for a lot of different people – he will be missed by a lot rather than a few.”

Police have released a picture of Mr Bradbury’s missing Citizen Eco-Drive wristwatch, and want to speak to anyone who has seen, bought or been offered the item.

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Detective inspector Sarah Oliver, who is leading the investigation, said: “Mark would wear the watch regularly, and I’m keen to find out what happened to it as it has not been seen or recovered since he died.

“I believe somebody out there knows where it is – perhaps it has been disposed of or been sold to you.

“If you see the watch or believe you know where it is, I want to hear from you.

“Our investigation has been continuing with a number of lines of enquiry being followed.

“I now want to take this opportunity to further prompt people who haven’t yet got in touch to contact us.

“We believe that Mark had regular visitors to his house, and I am particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has information about them and the vehicles they were using in the weeks running up to his death.

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Mark Bradbury pictured with his van outside his home on Station Road South

“I know people may feel hesitant in coming forward and be reticent to speak to police, but if you do not feel comfortable talking to us directly you can provide information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers.”

Mr Bradbury was last seen outside his bungalow on Station Road South, near to the subway under Birchwood Way, at around 5pm on Thursday, August 1 having returned home after walking his golden retriever with his brother.

It is unclear when exactly he was killed, but police officers responding to reports of concern for a man’s safety discovered his body at around 10pm on Sunday, August 4.

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Detectives have probed Mr Bradbury’s suspected low-level involvement in the supply of cocaine as a key lead in tracing his killer, and previously appealed for information from the public over this aspect of his life.

A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in September, but he was later released and remains on conditional bail.

DI Oliver has expressed frustration at not yet having been able to give Mr Bradbury’s family ‘the answers they need’.

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She added: “It’s three months now since Mark was found, and three months Hannah has been without her dad.

“She hasn’t had the answers about what happened to him – on a very human level, that is something anybody would need.

“It’s really frustrating as a team not to have been able to give Hannah those answers.

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Hannah Bradbury and DI Sarah Oliver

“We’ve got over 20 members of staff supporting this investigation full-time at the moment – huge activity has been going on in terms of recovering CCTV, witnesses being interviewed and tracing people.

“Obviously Mark’s address was very close to a social club, so there were a lot of people in the vicinity over that weekend and we’re really keen to speak to them.

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“Even if they don’t think their information is important, it might be important to us – it might be the key.”

Hannah has also thanked the people of Warrington and Cheshire Police for their support in the months following her dad’s death.

She said: “My dad was well known by a lot of people, and he gave his time to a lot of people – from being a little boy, he’s always been in Warrington.

“People have come out in their hundreds to offer unconditional support and I’m really grateful for it, because I think it would extremely difficult if I didn’t have the amount of support I’ve been given.

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“The police have been exceptionally supportive, and I really couldn’t have asked for anything more.

“I’m very confident that the police force are doing everything in their power to give my family and my dad’s friends closure.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101, quoting incident number IML476959, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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