[24 AUG 00] CRIMES, FIRES & ACCIDENTS
Mystery Body Found In Coventry Hotel

Coventry’s coroner is appealing for help in revealing the identity of a football fan who was found dead in a city hotel.

The mystery man checked into the Ibis in Mile Lane, Cheylesmore on 18 August.

His writing was hard to read in the register, but he signed himself in as either Curtis or as John Smith.

The man gave his date of birth as 5 June 1961, and his address as Foregate Street, Worcester.

Police enquiries have revealed that the address is not a residential building.

Officers have discovered that the man went to the Coventry City against Middlesbrough game on Saturday, and sat in block 9, row J of the lower tier of the M&B stand.

Later that day he was seen at the bar in the Ibis hotel. The next day he was discovered dead in his room by hotel staff.

His death is not thought to be suspicious, and the coroner is appealing for help in tracing anyone who might know him.

The man is white, 5ft 10ins, 10.5 stone and wore thin frame glasses. He had no tattoos or distinctive body marks, and wore no jewellery.

Documents found in his possession suggested that he visited Thailand in June, and that he has links with the Worcester and Kidderminster area. He also had connections with Alcoholics Anonymous.