A FORMER work colleague of Bolton man Daniel O'Brien has spoken of his shock after the businessman was found hacked to death with an axe.

Mr O'Brien, aged 41, was discovered naked in an upstairs bedroom of his £200,000 house by his girlfriend, Jan Charlton, and her five-year-old daughter Amy.

Detectives in West Yorkshire, led by Det Chief Supt Paul Johnston, are sifting through records, diaries and contact details kept at home by Mr O'Brien in an attempt to uncover a motive.

As reported in the BEN, the search could bring them to Bolton as Mr O'Brien is known to have recorded every phone call and conversation. Police are confident he knew his attacker and his diaries may hold the key to catching the killer.

Police have denied claims he was found gagged and handcuffed. But they have yet to deny the motive behind the murder was sexual.

Mr O'Brien, formerly of Harwood, was a marketing director and major shareholder of an electrical repair company called Repair and Care Ltd, based in Normanton, near Wakefield, before he died.

The company was owned by Yorkshire Electricity and employed 100 people. British Gas bought the company in 1998 as they entered the electrical and central heating market.

A spokesman for British Gas said: "We wanted to use their experience and expertise and the company started to do electrical repairs in the commercial sector for us."

The worker, who did not want to be named, said: "He was a nice chap who had a bubbly personality. It was a big shock to all of us when we heard the news."

Mr O'Brien was retained by British Gas as a consultant, advising the company on repairing appliances after Repair and Care disbanded.

He was known to be working from home since January on other business projects.

An inquest is expected to be opened. A post-mortem examination found that Mr O'Brien died of severe head injuries.

An incident room has been established and can be called on 01924 293305.