EX-WORKMATES of a man whose homes have been searched by detectives leading the hunt for Claudia Lawrence say they do not believe he had anything to do with her disappearance.

Richard Cartwright, 57, who spent his working life at York Carriageworks, died a few weeks after the 35-year-old chef from Heworth vanished in March.

Two of Mr Carwright’s properties – only yards from Claudia’s home – have come under the spotlight of the huge probe into her suspected murder.

Police believe Mr Cartwright, who was found dead on April 9, was the man seen on CCTV walking to the rear of Claudia’s house when she failed to arrive for work on March 19.

Last week, detectives began searching two houses owned by unmarried Mr Cartwright in East Parade, Heworth.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned into his death which is not being treated as suspicious, and a toxicology report is currently being prepared. Paul Cooper, who worked with Mr Cartwright at the carriageworks, said: “I knew him quite well – he was a personable chap, but he kept his own life to himself.

“At work, he was outgoing, popular and a bit of a joker. He had a real passion for his job – he used to bring sandwiches in and sell them even though you weren’t really supposed to. I was at his funeral and his death came as a real shock because I’d seen him at the funeral of one of our former colleagues a few weeks before and he looked really well.

“I would never have thought Richard could have any aggression in him towards anybody and I can’t believe he would ever be involved in something like this – that’s not the person I knew. It’s a shame his name has come into the investigation in this way because he is not around to speak for himself, and I also feel sorry for his family.”

Another friend of Mr Cartwright, 57-year-old Colin Molloy, described him as a “workaholic” who bought properties to let before it became common practice. He also had a night job, cleaning railway carriages at York Station.

Since Claudia, who worked as a chef at the University of York, disappeared, police have searched a string of properties including her local pub, The Nag’s Head.

Last week, The Press exclusively revealed North Yorkshire Police have so far spent £485,000 on the hunt for her, one of the largest operations in the force’s recent history.