Missing CCTV leaves death a mystery

2:23pm Tuesday 19th August 2008

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VIDEO footage which could have helped provide vital information on how a man died has been deleted.

Kevin Jessup, aged 44, of Kinver Road, Sydenham, was found lying unconscious outside the Lock Tavern pub, in Chalk Farm Road, Camden, on December 21.

The father of three, whose cash card was missing when he was found, died at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead the following day.

Video footage on a shop's CCTV camera could have held information to help explain what happened, but it was deleted after 14 days.

The camera was pointing at a cash machine in Kentish Town where Mr Jessup's card was used.

It was used three times at around 5.50am to get a total of £250 from the cash machine while Mr Jessup was with two youths on the day of his death.

After parting from the youths, he used it again to try and withdraw £100 at around 6.02am before he was found collapsed at 6.20am.

An inquest into Mr Jessup's death took place on August 12 at St Pancras Coroner's Court where an open verdict was recorded.

A post-mortem examination showed the cause of death was a fractured skull.

A spokesman for the Met, which investigated the incident, said: "There was no evidence of foul play, the injury was found to be consistent with a fall."