Miser hunted over killing of ex-wife 'to avoid divorce payout'

Harold 'Jim' Ingram disappeared shortly before his former wife Diane, 61, was found dead in her ground floor flat with a single stab wound to the neck.

Eccentric Ingram, 62, a retired miner who amassed a fortune from a lifetime of frugal living, was seen leaving town on a bus two hours before the grim discovery.

The flat cap wearing skinflint, who is said to have a detailed knowledge of bus routes and be able to survive on a "hand to mouth" existence, has now been missing for three months.

Renewing an appeal to find the fugitive, Detective Inspector Ronnie Walker, of Staffordshire Police, said: "We are treating Mr Ingram as a murder suspect and urgently want to speak to him about this.

"Jim Ingram is not someone given to creature comforts. He could survive quite easily with basic food and a roof over his head.

"He is a loner who could fade into the background quite anonymously.

"It may be that you have employed him, walked past him or spoken to him several times and not realised who he is.

"Jim a creature of habit who led a frugal, self-sufficient life before the murder. He may be living a hand-to-mouth existence, possibly engaged in casual work.

"You may have given him a lift, or seen him in the library or park or on the bus. We would urge you to ring us."

The body of blonde Mrs Ingram was found at her home in Cannock, Staffordshire, at 5.20pm on March 13. The suspect was seen on a bus leaving Cannock at around 3.20pm the same day.

He had split from his wife of 40 years in 2005. She moved out to her flat while he continued living in their former marital home, also in Cannock. The couple had children, but it is not known how many.

After the marriage broke up, a divorce court ordered him to pay his wife £100,000 before March 14.

Mr Walker said: "One of our lines of inquiry is whether the pending financial settlement may have triggered the tragic events of March 13."

Police confirmed Ingram did receive a small minor's pension but his personal wealth was built up entirely through a life time of saving.

He travelled by bus instead of driving a car, carried his possessions in plastic bags and spent his time sitting in parks, libraries and pubs selling cheap beer.

Since his disappearance, detectives have established that Ingram was caught on CCTV on the afternoon of April 16 in Shrewsbury town centre.

Cameras also captured images of him as he boarded a bus in Lichfield city centre to travel to Burton-upon-Trent on Wednesday April 18.

Detectives have also released a CCTV image showing him reading a newspaper report about his wife's death.

Following these sightings, detectives carried out several detailed searches throughout Staffordshire and surrounding areas.

All UK police forces and ports have been put on alert regarding Ingram's disappearance.

Ingram is described as around 5ft 7in and of medium build. He walks with a distinctive stoop and has unkempt short, greying brown hair.