Police investigating the death of a man whose body was found on Perranporth beach have released new information in an attempt to move the case forward.

In a press conference at Bodmin police hub on Wednesday, May 21, attended by DCI Dave Thorne and Alan's borother Derek, police detailed the extent of the injuries found on the body.

DCI Dave Thorne, senior investigating officer, said: “Three months on and there are still some gaps in the information we have about Alan and his last movements.

“We are still treating his death as suspicious due to the extent of his injuries and the fact that he was found naked, with a sock and headphones in his mouth."

Alan's body, found on Tuesday, February 25, had multiple injuries to his chest, head and hand, with significant internal injuries, a flesh wound to his scalp and bleeding hand injuries, and  there were some signs of possible drowning but it has not been confirmed as the cause of death.

Police said a set of white Apple iPhone or iPod style headphones with volume control were found looped around a rolled up sock in Alan’s mouth, and were trailing out of the mouth.

The light blue rain coat he was seen wearing in Truro on Monday 24 February has not been found. The navy Regatta jacket found on the beach is thought to be different to the one he was seen wearing in the CCTV images.

Some of Alan’s other belongings are still missing, including a Barclays Bank current account card, a Barclaycard credit card, a Nokia 1110i mobile phone, a third generation iPod shuffle and the rest of the clothing he was wearing.

Alan had recently purchased a 10kg weighted training vest and 2kg ankle weights but they have not been located. Detectives are trying to establish whether they were bought for him to wear or whether he bought them for another reason such as a gift for someone else.

Alan is believed to have got a bus from the Lemon Quay, Truro to Perranporth at around 6.50pm on Monday, February 24. CCTV footage shows him waiting with three other people at a bus stop but these people have not been traced.

The police said officers have taken advice from HM Coastguard about tides, currents, swell and weather conditions, and one theory is that Alan may have entered the water towards Perran Sands, however this has not been confirmed.

DCI Thorne added: “There are a number of people we are keen to trace including three people seen with him at the bus stop in Truro who have not come forward yet.

“We believe he may have had a friend in Plymouth and another in Redruth, and would like to speak to them as they may be able to provide crucial information and fill in some of the gaps.

“During the investigation we have discovered that Alan was into online gaming and detectives would also like to hear from anyone who interacted with him online.

“There are lots of theories about how he may have died but we don’t know exactly what happened to him and we want to provide Alan’s family with some answers.”

Linda Danielis, Alan’s sister, released a written tribute to her brother. It said: “Alan was a very fit man and in good health. He walked daily and would have been a great advert to the NHS as a man who looked after his heart. As a pensioner he lived well, as he required little of life's comforts to keep himself happy and amused. A roof over his head, a bed, hot water, a computer, the internet, some basic food and drink and his favourite music of the moment seemed to be all that he needed.

“It is difficult to imagine anyone would have envied anything that he had, except possibly for a few special mineral exhibits which illustrated a previous passion in geology and mining.

“Alan was frequently a watcher and reflective thinker and was not the sort of person people always noticed. He would have been the visible fly on the wall in the corner. He would have hoped, had he still been with us today, that other people were watching and listening where he was between 6.45pm in Truro on Monday 24 February on that evening where the heavens opened, and 2pm the next day when his body was found on Perranporth beach, having met an unseemly, untimely demise somehow and somewhere during this time.

“I was totally unprepared for his death and very shocked to hear about it. The fact that it is unexplained does not help me deal with the disbelief about what has happened. Clearly I never said goodbye or gave him a final treat of any kind. If something happened at the end where he needed help and support I was not there to help.

“I want to wake up and think it is all a nightmare but realise it is not and there is no happy ending. More than anything I want answers, realising that there is nothing I can do to bring him back.”

Anyone with any information that could assist with the investigation is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111, quoting reference 381 of 1 March.

Falmouth Packet:

Ankle weights similar to those bought by Alan Jeal

Falmouth Packet:

A weighted vest similar to that bought by Alan Jeal

Falmouth Packet:

An updated map showing all of the sightings of Alan in Truro.

Map reproduced from the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. © Crown Copyright and Database Rights 2011 Ordnance Survey No100022024 Map Ref: D:/Map Workspaces/Operations/Livery/Truro_newspaper.WOR/160514