Reward offered to recover murdered businessman's stolen jewellery

A reward of £10,000 has been offered for information leading to the recovering of jewellery stolen during the alleged murder of businessman Guy Hedger during a raid on his home earlier this year.

Investigators are also urgently searching for the firearm used in the robbery in Dorset in April.

Mr Hedger, 61, was killed when he was shot after intruders entered the home he shared with his husband, Simon-Pierre Hedger-Cooper.

Local police received a call just after 3am reporting Mr Hedger had been shot with a shotgun. He was later pronounced dead shortly after arriving at hospital.

A number of items were also reportedly taken during the incident, some of them with significant sentimental value.

Kevin Downton, who is 40 and from Winterborne Stickland near Blandford, 41-year-old Jason Baccus and 44-year-old Scott Keeping, both of Verney Close in Bournemouth, are all charged with murder and are next due to appear in court on Wednesday.

Mr Hedger-Cooper said: “Many of the items taken from our home hold great sentimental value and are very important to me.

"I am grateful to Crimestoppers for issuing this reward for the safe return of these items. Those of particular importance are our diamond wedding rings, an emerald and diamond ring and a diamond Cartier watch, which were anniversary presents, and a black onyx ring, which was given to me by my mother.”

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Derbyshire, of Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “While three men have been charged with Guy’s murder, our investigations continue including the recovery of the firearm and reported stolen items.

“The independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers has issued this £10,000 reward for information and I am very grateful for their support. “I’d like to remind the public that Crimestoppers is independent to the police and any information given to them remains anonymous.”