Man who died in suspected murder at Peak District stone circle named by police

A 26-year-old man who died in a suspected murder during a summer solstice event at a Bronze Age stone circle has been named by police.

Isaac Clare-Watts, from Nottingham, was found at the Nine Ladies stone circle in Stanton Lees in the Peak District in Derbyshire at about 1.38pm on Monday.

Police have said “a young man’s life has been taken in the most brutal way”.

A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody, Derbyshire police said.

The Derby Mountain Rescue team, which was called out to assist East Midlands ambulance service at the scene, said in a statement on Facebook: “Our thoughts are with the man’s friends and family at this difficult time.”

Officers have said a number of people were in the area over the weekend for the summer solstice and are urging anyone who was there between 19 and 23 June, and anyone who has any video footage from the event during the same time period, to come forward.

The force is also asking anyone with dashcam footage of vehicles arriving and leaving over the weekend to contact officers.

Earlier this week, DI Tony Owen from the East Midlands special operations unit, who is leading the investigation, said: “I am urgently appealing for anyone who attended the summer solstice event over the weekend to please speak to officers as soon as they can.

“A young man’s life has been taken in the most brutal way, so it is vital that myself and the team build up a clear picture of the exact circumstances surrounding his death.

“This is why we urgently need to speak to everyone who was at the scene over the weekend.

“You may have only been there briefly and think you can’t help, but you could hold the key piece of information we need to understand what has happened and help us to get justice for this young man’s family.

“So I would ask, please, that if you attended the event, you contact us urgently so we can build up a picture of the event itself and what has led to this man’s death.”

Owen added: “I also really urge anyone who captured video footage from the event over the weekend to please come forward.”

According to English Heritage, Nine Ladies is a small early Bronze Age stone circle “traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday”.