Overview
- Officers attended a private address on Ayton Crescent after a late call and found a man with significant injuries who was pronounced dead following a response on Saturday, May 23.
- The victim has been named by his family as 47-year-old Peter Phillips and relatives have paid tribute while asking for privacy to grieve.
- Police have arrested up to seven people in connection with the inquiry, including two 39-year-old men held on suspicion of murder and several others detained on suspicion of assisting an offender or obstructing a constable with some later released or bailed.
- The initial response included the National Police Air Service, drones and North East Ambulance Service units while cordons and forensic teams worked on Ayton Crescent and neighbouring streets with some cordons later lifted as enquiries progressed.
- Senior officers have reassured locals that the incident is being treated as isolated and have asked the public to contact Cleveland Police with information or to submit dash-cam or CCTV for 7pm on May 23 to 1am on May 24, quoting the force reference numbers or via Crimestoppers.