THE mother of murdered Hampshire gold dealer Ricky Haywood today doubled a £25,000 reward to end the ten-year search for his killer.

Just before the anniversary of his shooting, grieving Phyllis Haywood confirmed £50,000 was now on offer for information leading to conviction.

Bachelor Ricky, 36, was found dead in the bath above his jewellery shop Ambiance in Shirley High Street on October 17, 1989. He had been shot five times at point-blank range, prompting speculation he was the victim of a hitman.

Since then police have interviewed 11,000 people, but his killer has never been caught.

Today frail Phyllis, 70, said she had never got over the murder of her only son.

"Not a day goes by when I don't think about my Ricky and what happened to him," she said.

"I will never be the same again. I will never get over it. It just keeps going round and round in my head.

"Every day I pray to the Lord above that this nightmare will be over and I will know who killed him. It would be my dearest wish."

Widowed Phyllis, who lives as a recluse in her West End home, hopes the large reward will encourage people to come forward with new information.

"The money is not important to me," she said. "I know it won't bring Ricky back but I can't find any peace. I can't move on until I know who killed him and why."

Hampshire police today backed the family's renewed appeal for information.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Kilbride said: "We would like to see things resolved for the sake of Phyllis Haywood and the wider family, who have to live with this day by day.

"They are no doubt still asking themselves the question 'why'. Unfortunately, we have so far been unable to provide them with an answer to that question."

DCI Kilbride said the murder was one of Hampshire's oldest unsolved cases.

"Ten years is very significant because people's lives change so much over that time," he added. "What people are prepared to say to us, their allegiances, sense of priority and circumstances may have changed. It may be that somebody now knows something about the offenders or the motive and would be prepared to make contact."

Police pledged all new lines of inquiry would be investigated. Anyone with information should contact the major crime squad on 01703 335444.

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