Unsolved: Alan Holmes Camden 1996

 It was Boxing day evening in 1996 when Alan Holmes, a 53 year old garage mechanic from Camden returned home to his flat in Parkway London after enjoying a festive celebration with friends Cathy Horgan and her family. He had lived for 30 years in this flat above a clothing shop (nowadays Starbucks).

His neighbours in the other flats were all away for christmas so the place was quiet and peaceful. Alan got in through the front door ( right of starbucks) and was expecting perhaps a night infront of the TV. But either as he entered the building or just after, he was viciously robbed by unknown person or persons who took his credit cards and cash from him,his passport, driving license and a silver picture frame and demanded to know his pin numbers. This information Alan probably gave willingly, just wanting these criminals out of his flat as asap. But these were a particularily evil sort of criminals who wanted to make sure their victim was not able to raise the alarm as they fled. They tied Alan to his bed by his wrists and ankles face down, the knots tied so tightly as to cause horrific pain.

Alan laid there on his bed fully clothed and unable to move for the next 10 days. He cried out for help incase any of his neighbours had arrived back after christmas but must have become weaker with the lack of food and water, whilst trying to cope with the pain of the tightly knotted ties around his hands. It is beyond dreadful to try and imagine how he felt as the days turned to nights and no help arrived to cut him free.

On January 2nd 1997 colleagues at Alans place of employment grew concerned when he never arrived after several days. Once the police had got into the flat he was found barely clinging to life and was quickly taken to hospital where he managed to tell the police a little of what had happened to him. Sadly Alan died soon after reaching hospital of sever dehydration and blood clots caused by his restraints and his immobilisation. His sister Mavis described his condition as being " A dreadful state".

CCTV was obtained of the assailants using Alans credit cards at a local cashpoint but unfortunately the images were not clear enough to be identifiable. Five men were subsequently arrested but none were ever charged with Alans' murder.

Alans friends and family described him as a kind and caring man who would help anyone. I wonder if the persons responsible ever pass by the flat or even have a coffee in Starbucks below. They cannot really be described as human at all.