DJ Derek manhunt goes nationwide

Police have widened their search for the missing Bristol legend


Police are widening the search for a legendary 73-year-old DJ from Bristol.

Derek Serpell-Morris, who has played sets at Glastonbury under the name DJ Derek and appeared with in a music video with Dizzee Rascal, was reported missing by his family on 23 July.

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Iddon said the last “credible” sightings on CCTV had been at Yate bus station on 17 July.

He said “exhaustive inquires” had been made in Bristol, and the South West, but it was now time to widen out the search to everywhere in the country.

“Mr Serpell-Morris had a passion for travelling long distances to visit newly-opened Wetherspoon pubs and may have been setting-off from the bus station in South Gloucestershire.”

“This sighting was made by two people who have known Derek for a long time and they had a conversation with Derek who confirmed he was still living at the same address.

“We know that Derek uses public transport extensively in South Gloucestershire.

“We are working on the theory that Derek was transiting through the Yate area when he was sighted on 16 or 17 July.”

Previously his great niece, Jennifer Griffiths, said she was losing hope of finding him alive.

The international DJ’s great niece told the Bristol Post she believes the date of the sighting was mistaken.

She said: “The police have told me they have checked the CCTV at Yate bus station and he was not on it.

“I think the people who reported seeing him there did see him, but it was the week before and they got confused with the dates. I don’t think it was a hoax, just a mistake.

“When we went into his flat we found his planner and it mentioned a few trips he was planning in July, but the CCTV at Temple Meads train station has been checked and he is just not on it. He never went on those trips.

“The police have got nothing to go on at the moment and I just don’t know where we go from here.”