The son of murdered Bradford grandfather Clement ‘Butch’ Desmier has revealed the sadness of the first Christmas without his dad.

Carl Desmier made an emotional plea for those who know who killed his father to come forward.

Mr Desmier, 43, spoke for the first time, exclusively to the Telegraph & Argus, since the death of his father, four months ago.

He described his dad as a “happy-go-lucky character” who was well known and well liked.

“If you saw him with a group of friends, he would be the centre of attention and everybody would hold onto his words,” Mr Desmier said.

Butch Desmier, 68, was found dead in his armchair at his home in Rowlestone Rise, Greengates, Bradford, on Thursday, August 23. He had a pillow over his head and had suffered 70 separate injuries, including 40 stab wounds, and had been tortured before he was killed.

His son said it did not sink in when he learned his father was dead.

“I was absolutely shocked,” he said. “When we learned he had been murdered, it knocked everybody for six.

“The fact that he suffered really hurts. You try not to think about it, but of course you do. It has taken its toll on everybody because we haven’t any answers.”

Carl is the only son of six children of Mr Desmier, who also had nine grandchildren, aged from 19 years to five months.

“The girls have taken it particularly badly, and I try to stay strong for them. This has been the first Christmas without our father. We would see him at Christmas, but this year we haven’t been able to. That has been hard.

“We have lost my dad and there’s nothing we can do about that. But there is somebody out there who has done this and is getting away with it.

“Somebody knows who has done it. I can’t understand how anyone can live with that sort of secret. I hope they find it in themselves to come forward. It’s not going to bring my dad back, but I feel if someone is caught I will feel better.”

There is still a £5,000 reward on offer from the Crimestoppers charity for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killers.

Mr Desmier added: “There is someone out there who has murdered a pensioner and is still walking the streets. Other pensioners are going to be scared. Somebody knows who has done this and really needs to come forward.”

Detective Superintendent Mark Ridley, who is leading the murder investigation, said the motive was unclear but the indications were that Mr Desmier was tortured during a robbery or burglary.

He said: “He was an elderly, frail man, and the level of violence used was abhorrent.

“We are pursuing a number of positive lines of inquiry. This is a difficult time for family and friends of Butch. It is a time for families.

“I appeal to anyone who knows who is responsible to have the courage to come forward now and tell us what they know.”

Anyone with information can contact West Yorkshire Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.