POLICE are offering a £30,000 reward for information in the hunt for a Nantwich man they fear has been murdered.

Detectives say their ‘Operation Pisces’ investigation into the disappearance of John Iveson on January 30 last year is now a murder inquiry, and that they are worried they are facing the toughest type of crime to crack – “a murder without a body”.

Mr Iveson, of Worleston Road, Worleston, worked in demolition but police say he was known to operate as a loan shark with a violent temper who always ensured his debts were paid.

Officers described him as “as much feared as liked” and said he was known to have business links all over the country.

On the night he disappeared, Mr Iveson, 37, left the family home with his brother-in-law to go and fix a HGV tractor unit at a farm in nearby Sound.

He left the farm driving a white ERF tractor unit which was found at his home, but he has never been seen since. His white Ford Tipper truck also disappeared on the night he vanished.

In March 2007, his wife Julie gave birth to a son he has never seen.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Dave Blood said there has been no contact with Mr Iveson since John made a drunken phone call to his wife at 11pm the night he disappeared.

He said: “I believe there are people who did not like John and who perhaps feared him. Our inquiries have failed to find any trace of him alive and well since January 30 last year.

“He had no obvious reason for leaving his wife and family behind and, therefore, we can only assume the worst. It is our duty to robustly enquire into this man’s disappearance and the circumstances leading up to it. We will not rest until we have answers.”

Mr Iveson is white, about 5ft 8in tall, well built, with short cropped hair and blue eyes.

Mr Blood added: “Our investigations are increasingly leading us to the view that John has met serious harm. If he has become the victim of crime, it’s my duty to ensure that the truth is told and justice is done.”