Police appeal for Derbyshire father viewed by 100,000

A Facebook advert appealing for information about the death of an Ilkeston man following a hit-and-run four years ago has been seen by 100,000 people.

Derbyshire police launched the advert on Tuesday (August 14) as part of a fresh inquiry into the death of father-of-two Paul Davis.

The force re-opened the investigation on Friday, September 10 on the fourth anniversary of Mr Davis’ death.

Mr Davis, 37, of Corporation Road, Ilkeston, was found lying in the road not far from his home in the early hours of Sunday, August 10, 2008.

He was taken to the Queens Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead. A post mortem showed he died from internal injuries and police believe he had been in collision with a vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle did not remain at the scene and the vehicle has never been traced.

An inquest held in 2009 ruled Mr Davis had been unlawfully killed.

The advert targets people living in and around Ilkeston and if clicked on, it will take users to the force Facebook page, where details of the appeal can be found.

The advert has appeared on the pages of 100,000 Facebook users and 416 people have clicked through to the Derbyshire Constabulary website for more information since it was set up.

Head of Roads Policing, Chief Inspector Steve Wilson, has also done an online media appeal that can be viewed on the Derbyshire Constabulary website. To date, 600 people have viewed the appeal.

Chief Inspector Wilson said: "To try to reach as many people as possible we have developed a Facebook advert which is set to target users in and around the Ilkeston and Nottingham area.

"We hope the advert will encourage people to look at the appeal sections of our Facebook page and the force website.

"We want people to view the CCTV footage we have uploaded, which shows a car seen in area on the night of Paul’s death. We have yet to trace the driver of this car but the CCTV may jog someone’s memory and encourage them to come forward.”

More than 11,000 leaflets are being delivered to every household in Ilkeston as part of the inquiry.

Posters have been distributed to all pubs and clubs in the area as well as taxi offices in the Ilkeston and Nottingham areas.

To view the appeal, visit www.derbyshire.police.uk or search for Derbyshire Constabulary on Facebook.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sergeant Jason Clark from the Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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