Doncaster residents '˜scared' after police launch murder investigation

Police were called to Cross Street, Balby, at around 4.30am on Friday to the property, where the body of a 43-year-old man was discovered.

Shocked neighbours - who woke to the sight of forensics officers combing the scene for evidence - said they had been left feeling frightened following the killing.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “I live alone and this has made me feel scared. The fact that it’s happened while I was asleep, just a few footsteps away, is a scary thought.

“It makes you more aware of what goes on behind closed doors. People here feel unsafe.”

She added: “People pretty much keep themselves to themselves around here, which is why I like living here, but now I’m not so sure.”

Another neighbour also spoke of her shock, but said there had been an increase in crime in the area over recent weeks.

She said: “I don’t know who the man was, I was just surprised at how close it was to my house.

“It seems the norm these days, there’s a lot of crime going on.

“I only leave my house in my car. It’s not even safe enough to take my daughter to the park because you don’t know who’s out there.”

There was a strong police presence in the area following the incident, with police vehicles lining the street.

Another woman who leaves nearby, but wanted to remain anonymous, said she had seen forensic officers going in and out of the terraced house where the victim’s body was found on Friday and Saturday.

She said: “Balby is getting bad, this is way too close to home for me. They were there again on Saturday in their white suits, and there were police outside all night on Friday.

“It’s worrying.”

The suspect was arrested on Saturday and taken into custody to be questioned by detectives.

A post-mortem examination of the body found that the cause of death was multiple injuries.

The victim has not yet been formally identified, but his family have been informed.

Detectives say they want to hear from people who saw anything suspicious in Cross Street over the last week.

n Anyone with information should call 101, or email [email protected], quoting incident number 128 of March 11.