Cops launch probe as dead Brit found tied to a bench with trousers round his ankles at Malaga airport

MURDER Squad Detectives in Spain were last night probing the mystery sex killing of a British man found tied up and stripped at Malaga Airport.

Steven Allford, 51, was found bound to a bench by the wrist and ankle with plastic ties near the airport terminal and had his trousers pulled down.

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Early examinations suggest he died of asphyxiation and had been either throttled or choked to death early yesterday.

Police were last night checking flights to establish whether he had missed a plane home and been attacked after bedding down on a bench in a landscaped area outside departures.

A security guard made the grim discovery early yesterday and Spanish detectives were immediately drafted in.

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Forensic teams were last night examining a luggage trolley found next to the body which contained documents which identified Mr Allford.

A Spanish source said: "The state in which the body was found had triggered an investigation and we are attempting to find out more about the circumstances.

"His trousers had been pulled down suggesting a sexual assault or rape may have been attempted after his hands were bound.

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"We still have no idea whether he was a tourist who missed a flight or an ex-pat living locally. We have no idea what he was doing there.

“Foul play is suspected and it is being taken very seriously."

The body was discovered close to the entrance to the railway station serving Spain’s fourth biggest airport, which serves 14 million passengers a year including British trippers.

His trousers had been pulled down suggesting a sexual assault or rape may have been attempted

Police suspect Mr Allford may have been killed because there was no apparent way he could have tied himself, hand and foot, to the static bench.

A post mortem examination to determine the exact cause of his death was due to be carried today.

Police said British Foreign Office officials had been informed.