A NINETEEN-year-old Carlisle man has appeared before magistrates charged with the murder of the missing Annan man Paul Taylor.

Jack Ryan Crawley appeared before the city’s Rickergate court today via a video link from a prison in Hull. He spoke only to confirm his personal details and there was no application for bail.

Magistrates sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court for a hearing on Monday.

He was not asked to enter a plea to the allegation. After legal discussions, magistrates remanded the defendant in custody until his next court appearance.

The teenager, whose address has been given previously as Sheehan Crescent, Carlisle, was represented in court by defence lawyer Nick Kennon.

Detectives brought the charge following a lengthy investigation which began after Mr Taylor went missing on October 17 last year. The charge before the court alleges that the defendant murdered Mr Taylor “on or about” October 18 last year.

At the time of his disappearance, Mr Taylor was aged 56.

Following the defendant’s arrest, police issued a statement saying that while the charge represents a significant step the investigation is continuing and want to hear from anybody who can help detectives find Mr Taylor’s body.

In a statement issued before today’s magistrates’ court hearing, Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Pattinson said: "This of course, is a significant step forward in the investigation, but that does not mean the work of the investigation stops here.

"We are still appealing to the public for information that will lead us to finding Paul's body.

"We have a team of detectives continuing to work tirelessly and thoroughly to piece together the circumstances the led to Paul's disappearance and to locate his body, giving his family the answers they desperately deserve.

"Please, if you have any information which you have not yet come forward with, I urge you to do so.

"You can call 101 and speak to a member of the Operation Focus team, or, if you don't feel comfortable speaking with police, you can call Crimestoppers totally anonymously on 0800 555 111.

"Paul's family continue to be supported and updated throughout our investigation and will remain so throughout the judicial process." 

Officers believe that Mr Taylor Paul travelled from his home address in Annan, to Carlisle shortly before midnight on Tuesday 17 October 2023 in his blue Vauxhall Corsa (reg: PY18 DYO).