A HEARTBROKEN mum has pleaded for her son's body to be returned to her seven years after he was brutally killed over a drugs debt.

The family of Jesse Richards who was killed in Cleeve Prior, near Evesham are still trying to trace his body seven years after his death on July 31, 2009.

Mr Richards, 41, of Surrey but originally from Gloucester, was killed in a sustained and brutal attack over a drugs debt.

Five men were jailed in connection with his death and were collectively sentenced to more than 58 years in prison.

His family continue to hope that Jesse will be found and his mother, Lucy Richards, aged 74, has reiterated her appeal for anyone with information to come forward and says time is 'running out' for her.

Mrs Richards also appealed directly to those convicted in connection with her son's death - Kevin Houston, James Doe, Joseph Doe, David Butler and Robert Taylor - to show remorse and lead the police to his body so they can give him a proper church burial next to his father, also called Jesse, who is buried in St Matthew's Church in Twigworth, near Gloucester.

She said: “I speak to those people who have information but haven’t contacted police. If they could for one minute put themselves in my place they would know the heartache I am feeling and have felt for the last seven years.

“I ask anyone who has any information that could lead me to my son's body to please contact the police."

She said of his killers: "If they could show any kind or remorse just so I can get my Jesse back so I can have some closure and say goodbye.

"That's what I really want. Seven years has not taken the pain away. It only makes it worse. In seven years I have had a long time to think about what they did.

"If they could find it in their hearts to show remorse and to say where Jesse is buried then I can bury him and say goodbye. That is the only thing now in my life I want.

"I know I'm never going to see my Jesse again. I know he's dead but not knowing where Jesse is is the thing that's killing me. I will never be the same.

"I can't put my feelings into words. Every morning I get up and see his face and every night and all day long."

Mr Richards was the eldest of her three children and had three children himself - Carl, 14, Jesse, 21, and Codie, 24.

He was also the godfather to his sister Tina Richards's three children.

She said: "He was well-liked and well-respected, very caring and not a violent person in any way. He would not hurt anybody. His ambition was to try and help everyone. He was a rock. If you had a problem you could go to Jesse. He was the one you could tell a secret."

Superintendent Mark Loader led the investigation.

He said: “Jesse was killed seven years ago and his killers have been brought to justice for their crimes.

"However, his family continue to suffer and we want to give them the opportunity to lay Jesse to rest.

“The investigation found evidence to suggest Jesse’s body was transported to an area in Warwickshire some time after his death but was never found.

"We know some individuals have information which could lead us to Jesse’s body and are choosing not to come forward.

"I appeal to them to consider the pain Jesse’s family continue to suffer long after his death and ask them to re-consider contacting police."

If you have any concerns about coming forward to police you can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and make an anonymous report with any information you have.

A £10,000 reward is still available for information leading to the successful discovery of his body and anyone with any information is encouraged to contact police using the non-emergency number 101.