Police marksman found dead after search in woods

A former Metropolitan Police marksman has been found dead in woodland after disappearing from his home.

Steven Reis, 35, who resigned from the force last year after being convicted of drink-driving, went missing from his parents' home a week ago.

Police launched a search for Mr Reis after concerns were raised for his psychological wellbeing.

His mother, Jackie, said last week that her son, a former Royal Engineer who fought in Bosnia, suffered from post-traumatic stress and alcoholism.

Mrs Reis's eldest son John died, aged 27, in 2000, and another son, Alan, died in November, aged 33, from Legionnaires' Disease.

Mr Reis's body was found in Donyland Woods near Rowhedge, Colchester, yesterday afternoon.

He served as an armed response officer with the Met's CO19 unit but resigned in December last year after he was arrested for drink-driving in Essex.

Police and local search teams had been scouring the woods and countryside around his home for the past week.

Essex Police said the death was being treated as non-suspicious.