SIX years after the death of her son, Lucy Richards says she is relying on someone "finding a heart" and telling her where his body is so she can lay him to rest.

Surrey man, Jesse Richards, was killed in Cleeve Prior near Evesham over a drugs debt on July 31, 2009.

The 40-year-old was subjected to a sustained and brutal attack and his body is thought to have been taken to an area in Warwickshire by his attackers to be disposed of.

In 2012, five men were sentenced to more than 58 years in prison in total, but Mr Richards' body has never been found.

"It feels like we are being punished. I'm being punished, his wife is being punished, and Jesse's children are being punished. Yes, those five men are also being punished but what did they expect? I just want them to find the decency to tell us where he is so we can bring Jesse back. We just want somewhere we can visit him and I can know Jesse is there," Mrs Richards, aged 73, said.

Mrs Richards lives in Gloucestershire, only miles from where her son was killed but also where he grew up.

"He was a lovely, lovely man. Jesse wouldn't hurt a fly, but he got mixed up with the wrong crowd. The police seem to think he knew too much, which is why he was killed," she said.

"I've written to the men in prison, but they still wouldn't tell me. I think they are scared that there will be something on the body that may mean bad news for them, but I don't want that. They have their sentence and I'm happy with that. I just want to say goodbye to my son.

"Someone must know something. Other people could have been there when Jesse died, or his killers may have told someone something, however small. I just want someone to find it in their hearts to tell us where he is. They can call police anonymously. I just want to lay my son to rest.

"I can't die knowing he's in some cold grave somewhere. I will never be at peace."

Detective Superintendent Mark Loader led the investigation for West Mercia Police.

He said: “The manner in which Jesse died was horrific and brutal and his family continue to suffer years after his death. I ask anyone who has any information to come forward to police and allow them the opportunity to say goodbye.

“I will also like to remind the public that a £10,000 reward is on offer for any information which leads to the recovery of Jesse’s body.”

If you have any information please contact police on the non-emergency number 101.

Information can also be passed on anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website www.crimestoppers-uk.org.