Police have confirmed that the body of a man discovered on Royal Park Avenue on Friday morning was that of a Leeds Beckett student. The student in question has been identified as Harry Loker, a 21-year-old student who studied Music Performance and Production at the metropolitan University.

Officers remain at the scene and, after initially treating the incident as not suspicious, the police are now appealing for further information after a number of ‘unexplained injuries’ continue to remain unaccounted for. On Thursday night, Loker was socialising with friends in Leeds city centre, and it is believed that he made his way home in the early hours of Friday morning. Detectives are currently attempting to piece together the movements of the Beckett student after he left his friends.

Our thoughts go out to Loker’s friends and family at this time, who are understandably devastated by the news. Speaking in his memory, Loker’s family said: “Harry was a devoted son, brother and perfect grandson and we could not have asked for more. We as a family were extremely proud of Harry and all his achievements and he will be sorely missed. This terrible, terrible incident has broken us as a family and leaves pain in our hearts”.

If anyone has any information that they think could prove useful to the case, or who think they may have seen Loker, the police urge you to contact Leeds District CID by calling 101 and quoting 1317426310, or to get in touch with Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.

The Gryphon would like to take this time to remind students to stay safe when walking through Leeds late at night, and to always travel in pairs whenever possible.

Robert Cairns