A TOP Suffolk sportsman who went missing in France seven months ago did not disappear of his own accord, The Evening Star has learned.Christopher Lipscombe, a 60-year-old former county champion at tennis and squash, went missing from his home in a mountainous village near the town of Carcassonne, in the south of France, on December 11 last year.

A TOP Suffolk sportsman who went missing in France seven months ago did not disappear of his own accord, The Evening Star has learned.

Christopher Lipscombe, a 60-year-old former county champion at tennis and squash, went missing from his home in a mountainous village near the town of Carcassonne, in the south of France, on December 11 last year.

The Evening Star can now reveal that French detectives working on the case have told family members that they believe Mr Lipscombe did not intend to go missing.

Mr Lipscombe's mother, Joyce Lipscombe, said: “They (the police) know he didn't want to go of his own accord.

“They believe he either had an accident or an illness.

“He didn't make up his mind that he wanted to go missing.”

Mrs Lipscombe added that family members have repeatedly visited her son's village in France but have precious little to go on.

“Nobody seems to know anything,” she said.

“There isn't a lot we can do.”

When police went to Mr Lipscombe's home after his disappearance was reported they found it unlocked with his wallet left open on a table.

Mr Lipscombe's passport was also found in his house.

It has since emerged that Mr Lipscombe may have been considering getting back together with a former wife just days before his disappearance.

French police are continuing to investigate the disappearance.

Anyone who thinks they may have information about Mr Lipscombe's whereabouts is asked to contact Suffolk police on 01473 613500.

Christopher Lipscombe's disappearance:

n> Fears were triggered about Mr Lipscombe's whereabouts when he did not show up to take a friend to Carcassonne airport.

n> Police immediately arranged search parties to scour the mountainous area around his home.

n> Mr Lipscombe, who has been living alone in France since retiring two years ago, has two grown-up children with his first wife.

n> Born in Felixstowe, he has spent much of his life in Ipswich and worked for a period as a policeman in Lowestoft.

n> He is former a county squash and tennis champion, a top golfer and was ranked the number one table tennis player in Suffolk at under-18 level.