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Puzzle of murder victim's missing minutes
MYSTERY surrounds the final minutes of a taxi driver found murdered in the boot of his cab.
Phone and radio contact with the man, named locally as Stuart Ludlam, was lost for 55 minutes after he left the taxi office at 11.45am on Thursday.
Less than an hour later, police made the grim discovery in a green Ford Focus, which was parked at Cromford railway station car park.
The father-of-three, of Yew Tree Lane, Darley Dale, was declared dead at the scene by paramedics and police launched a murder enquiry.
Detective Superintendent Russ Foster, who is heading the investigation, said: "We would reiterate the importance of people coming forward if they know something.
"They may have seen someone with blood-stained clothing and it is in the interests of public safety that people make contact with us."
A post mortem examination was carried out yesterday but the results have not yet been released.
Mr Ludlam was seen leaving MJ Taxis, in Wirksworth, at around 11.45am.
Tracey Shelton, 48, of Ripley, who runs the firm with husband Mick, said for the next hour efforts to contact Mr Ludlam failed.
She and her husband were at a funeral on Thursday morning. "My husband called our mechanic who told us that Stuart had gone missing," she said.
"He said he saw him leave the office in the taxi and had tried to call him but his phone was switched off. Then a few minutes later he called again to tell us a body had been found in a taxi at Cromford station.
"I went down there but it was cordoned off and I could see my taxi from a distance. I wish we knew where he was in those missing minutes."
The Sheltons had employed Mr Ludlam for almost 15 years at the firm's offices in Porter Lane, Middleton.
Mrs Shelton said: "Stuart was Mick's right-hand man.
"He was bubbly, trustworthy, reliable and never let us down. I just don't understand it."
Last night members of Mr Ludlam's family were too upset to talk, but neighbours have spoken of their shock.
Eleanor Ward, 33, of Yew Tree Close, said: "My whole family is devastated. It's such a terrible thing.
"I've spoken to his wife and she told me some of the windows on the taxi were smashed.
"I saw him the day before he died, but his wife spoke to him for the last time at about half nine, then the first she heard about it was from the police liaison officer, which must have been awful."
Nathan Atkin, 35, also of Yew Tree Close, said he had known Mr Ludlam for a while and that their daughters went to the same playgroup.
"My girlfriend told me what had happened and I was so shocked – I'd only seen him that same day," he said.
"It was in the morning at a taxi rank in Matlock and I waved to him and he waved back, so everything seemed normal but, after that, I don't know what happened.
"He was such a good bloke and he absolutely lived for his kids. We've had barbecues together and they've been great.
"He's always been popular with people and nobody seemed to have a bad word to say about him. We've sent the family flowers and we just hope they'll be OK."
More than 150 people have joined a group on the social networking site Facebook, which has been set up in Mr Ludlam's memory.
Floral tributes have been placed at a taxi rank next to a Co-op store in Bakewell Road, Matlock. One read: "From all the local taxi drivers and friends in Matlock. RIP."
Sandie Wright, of DIY store Darley Discounts, in Dale Road North, employs Mr Ludlam's son.
She said: "He's a lovely lad and it's such a sad thing for the whole family to go through.
"We've told him we'll help in any way we can, because he's such a hardworking lad and can't do enough for everyone."
Mr Ludlam's body was found at the station in Lea Road.
Police cordoned off the area and the station was closed for more than 24 hours while forensics officers carried out detailed examinations.
Chief Superintendent Pete Lewis, Commander of B Division, which covers the Matlock area, said an incident room had been set up.
"A large team of detectives, uniformed officers and police staff are working on this investigation," he said.
"Officers will be following a number of lines of inquiry and we are sure that someone will have vital information that will help us find the killer or killers of this man and I'm urging them to tell us what they know.
"This is an unusual crime in what is normally a peaceful area of the county.
"Residents and visitors can rest assured that we are doing everything we can to solve this crime."
Anyone with information should ring the police on 0345 123 3333 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin
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