The search for a man with Asperger’s syndrome has been suspended by police after a body was found in a watercourse.

Martyn Richardson was last seen leaving a family birthday party in Bocking, near Braintree in Essex, on August 24.

The 27-year-old’s bike was found three days later in fields near the Blackwater River, his family said.

A body was found on Saturday in Bocking. Essex Police said Mr Richardson’s family had been informed, but formal identification had not yet taken place.

Body discovered

Mr Richardson, of Braintree, was last seen wearing a gray hoodie with a long-sleeved top underneath, black shorts and black shoes.

His family previously told BBC Essex Mr Richardson was “perfectly well when he left, there were no obvious signs of anything”.

Mary Richardson, who had been her grandson’s legal guardian since he moved in with her older child, said he planned to return home after the party.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We have suspended search activities for Martyn Richardson, 27, who was reported missing from Braintree in August.

“This follows the discovery of a man’s body in a watercourse in Bocking.

“Formal identification has not yet taken place, but Mr Richardson’s family has been informed and we support them.”

Investigations were ongoing and police insisted against any speculation.

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