Iron Acton murder

On 29th April this year, the body of 68 year old Barry Rubery was found in the porch of his home in Iron Acton. He was discovered by a friend who was visiting him that morning. He had been badly beaten, and died as a result of his injuries.

Land Rover

The night before, 28th April, Barry had attended a social dinner with two friends in nearby Downend. His friends had driven him home at around 10.45pm that evening and said goodbye at his driveway. This was to be the last time that they would see him alive.

Injuries sustained suggested that Barry, who had a Boxing background, had put up a fight or tried to defend himself. But his murderers had tied his wrists tightly together behind his back using cable ties and bound his ankles with an extension lead. He was attacked on the pathway to his home, and dragged into his porch where he was discovered dead.

Mobile phone

Fob watch

Barry lived in a quirky house known as ‘Crossings Cottage’ on Latteridge Road, a main through route to the M5, or the village of Iron Acton. Police have since had reports that earlier in the evening of 28th April, there were two separate sightings of a Land Rover parked outside of Barry’s home. The first at around 8.30pm, and again at around 10.30pm, just before Barry arrived home. Police are keen to speak to anyone who has any information about the Land Rover, so that it can be eliminated from their enquiries.

Barry’s home had been searched extensively. His Nokia 3310 mobile phone and gold fob-watch were stolen, but money he had on him and inside his house was ignored. Was this a burglary gone wrong, or were the offenders looking for something specific, or waiting for Barry to arrive home?

Barry was a well-liked and well-respected member of the community. His home occupied a large area of land, some of which he used to rent out storage units. It is not known why anyone would want to kill him. His children and grandchildren are devastated by his murder, and tonight police appeal for your help in bringing his killers to justice.

• • A dark coloured Landrover Defender seen outside Barry’s home. The vehicle is described as having a long wheel base, twin cabs and either a canvas or hard covering at the rear. It did not appear to be shiny or new. The Landrover was spotted outside Barry’s driveway on Latteridge Road at 8.30pm and 10.30pm on 28th April. Did you see a similar vehicle in or around Iron Acton on 28th/ 29th April?

• • A further witness report of a large black pick up truck seen outside the cottage at 1045pm, just at the time that Barry arrived home. The witness stated that the vehicle has a cab at the front and the back has a flat bed with no cover. Did you see this vehicle, or know anyone that has access to something similar?

• • The Badminton horse trials took place in the area on the weekend directly after Barry’s murder. Perhaps someone who doesn’t live in that area was visiting that week and saw something unusual.

• • Several other items were missing – a drill, an extension lead and electrical cable but these could have been used by Barry prior to his murder or they could have been taken by those who murdered him.

• • It is known that the electrical extension lead used to tie him up came from Barry’s shed. Is this the case with the cable ties, or were they brought to the scene by the offenders. They were manufactured by Giantlok in Taiwan and imported to this country. They are extra heavy duty cable ties, measuring 12.6mm by 480mm.

• • There is a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person linked to this murder. Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Please use the form below to contact us about this appeal (items marked * are required).