Police Reveal Possible Paedophile Link To 25 Year Old Disappearance

It has been revealed that a teenage boy may have been murdered in an area known to have an active paedophile ring at the time of his disappearance 25 years ago.

Lee Boxell, 15 at the time of his disappearance, was last seen in the High Street in Sutton, southwest London, in September 1988.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police now believe he was murdered.

It has also been revealed that there was "known paedophile activity amongst a group of offenders in the Cheam area at the time Lee disappeared".

Investigators are working on the theory that on the day he disappeared Lee went to a St Dunstan's Church outbuilding, known as "the shed", where teenagers would drink and smoke.

"Lee used to go to the shed and there is a theory that he may have seen something that may have led to him losing his life,” Det Insp John McQuade has said.

"There's no indication that he was a victim of any paedophile activity or sexual offences against himself.

"Although shy and a bit socially inept he was a strong little character. If he had seen it, he would have stood up to them. I think he was a victim of circumstance that afternoon."

A number of calls have been received following a reconstruction of Lee’s last known movements on the day of his disappearance were broadcast on BBC One’s Crimewatch programme.

The investigation is ongoing.

(H)