Landlord still on the run

IPSWICH pub landlord Andrew Ross is still being hunted today after thousands of pounds of cash went missing from The Inkerman Christmas club.

Police want to question the 37-year-old in connection with an investigation into the theft of money and stock from the pub in Norwich Road.

Ross has not been seen since December 13, when it was discovered that about £20,000 worth of Christmas club monies together with two weeks' takings and a quantity of stock had been taken from the Ipswich pub.

Couples had put up to £1,000 each into the Christmas club run at the pub and the 49 members now fear that their money may never be returned to them.

Pubmaster - which owns the pub now reopened under a new landlord - confirmed at the time that Ross had gone missing, and bosses are still looking for him.

Detective Constable Danny Mayhew said today: "We urgently want to speak to Andrew Ross in connection with the investigation into the theft of money and stock from The Inkerman public house.

"We are working closely with Northumbria Police in Sunderland, as we believe Mr Ross has family connections in the Farringdon area."

A spokeswoman for police in Sunderland today declined to comment on how many officers were involved in the hunt, as the case is being led by Suffolk Police.

Earlier this month , Ross failed to appear at court charged with serving alcohol outside licensing hours.

Ross, who lived at the pub, is charged with selling liquor outside permitted hours on September 15 which was the date of the Ipswich v Norwich match at Portman Road which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Magistrates could not issue a warrant for his arrest for not turning up as the licensing offence charged is not an imprisonable one.

The case was adjourned to February 5.

Anyone with information about Andrew Ross should telephone Dc Danny Mayhew at on 01473 383133 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.