Prostitute's body found in ditch by motorways

THE BODY of a prostitute has been found dumped in a ditch at Swinford, Leicestershire, police revealed over the weekend.

Samo Paul, 20, had been strangled, then her partially clothed body left in a ditch near the junction of the M6 and M1. Her family had reported her missing on 4 December.

Detective Superintendent Dave Unwin, head of CID at Sandwell, West Midlands, said that Ms Paul, who had an eight-month-old daughter, had worked as a prostitute in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, for a 'substantial time'.

He said that she was taken to Balsall Heath by taxi on 4 December, but her movements after that were not known. Police believe she was killed before her body was taken the 30 miles from Birmingham to Swinford, where it was found last Thursday.

Det Supt Unwin said: 'We would appeal to anyone who saw anything near where her body was found, or even any prostitutes or clients who can help us, to come forward. We will treat everyone with confidentiality. The clients could be from anywhere but we need to trace whoever killed this young woman.' The murder inquiry is based at West Bromwich.