Officers investigating murder rearrest teenager

William McNicholl's body was found inside a home on Hawthorn Drive

A teenager has been rearrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead on New Year's Day.

William McNicholl, 63, known as Billy, was found at a home on Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich, on 1 January, but police believe he was killed on Christmas Day.

Preliminary results from a Home Office post-mortem examination indicated he died as a result of head injuries and a single stab wound.

A 17-year-old was previously arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed. Now aged 18, he has been rearrested and remains in police custody.

Mr McNicholl had a "heart of gold", his family said after his death in Ipswich

The teenager was also previously arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs and was rearrested over these same offences.

On 1 April, three other people were arrested as part of the investigation.

A 17-year-old boy, an 18-year-old man and a 41-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs.

They were bailed to return to police on 1 October.

A woman in her 50s who was previously arrested on suspicion of murder before being released on bail has been told she will face no further action, according to police.

Suffolk Police was called to Hawthorn Drive on New Year's Day

Police said Mr McNicholl was last seen on 23 December, but he had been active on social media on Christmas Day.

His family previously paid tribute to him and said he was a "cheeky geeza with a fun sense of humour".

"Love him or hate him, the man with many names who meant lots of different things to different people was cool, clever and eccentric," they added.

"His friends, five nieces and sister remember him as kind and generous, even when he didn't have much himself – he was a larger than life character with a heart of gold."