I will die of a broken heart: Stuart Lubbock's cancer-stricken father tells of his agony as suspect, 50, who was held over 2001 death at Michael Barrymore's mansion is freed without charge

The father of the man found dead in Michael Barrymore's swimming pool said he would 'die of a broken heart' – as police revealed yesterday they would not be charging a suspect.

Terry Lubbock, who has terminal cancer and only months to live, has been fighting for justice for more than 20 years following his son Stuart's death at a party in the former Strike It Lucky host's £2million Essex mansion.

A man in his 50s was detained on suspicion of murder and sexual assault in March in the North of England after Essex Police said 'significant new information' had come to light.

But the force has now admitted there is 'insufficient evidence to reach the level where there is a realistic chance of a successful prosecution' over the death in March 2001.

Mr Lubbock senior, 76, released a harrowing statement laying bare his devastation at the lack of resolution.

The message on Twitter, which was accompanied by a photo of the gaunt pensioner lying on his care home bed, said: 'Someone knows who killed Stuart Lubbock?

'I will die of a broken heart. Stuart was murdered at the former home of Michael Barrymore in Roydon, Essex.'

The dying father of Stuart Lubbock is seeking a police review into the decision to release a man arrested on suspicion of indecently assaulting and murdering his 31-year-old son at Michael Barrymore's luxury Essex mansion without charge 

Mr Lubbock's death shocked Britain and ended Barrymore's TV career overnight. The star, who made millions as one of the UK's top TV personalities of the 1980s and 1990s, has always denied playing any part in his suspected murder 

Earlier this year, Mr Lubbock  (right on Sunday) has said he wanted a coroner to oversee a new inquest into the death of his son and welcomes the arrest as he fights for justice

Mr Lubbock issued the tweet last week, but it is likely he was aware at the time from the police that the investigation was not leading to a charge. Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Jennings, who took over the case in 2018, insisted the investigation was not closed.

But he added there was 'huge personal disappointment' among his team.

He said: 'We have explored all possible lines of inquiry and sometimes, regrettably, the evidence is not yet there to issue charges. I know that this may be of little comfort to Stuart's father and his family. At every stage, it is the Lubbock family and our search for justice for them that dominates our thoughts and our actions.

'We have tried our best. We will continue to try our best.'

A post-mortem examination found Mr Lubbock suffered internal injuries suggesting he had been raped.

Barrymore's career imploded in the aftermath of the death, which happened after he and his then partner, Jonathan Kenney, spent the night out in Harlow. They went home with a small group of people they met in a club including butcher Mr Lubbock, 31, a divorced father of two.

Mr Lubbock had been attending a party at Barrymore's luxury home in Roydon with eight other people on March 31, 2001

Barrymore (pictured walking his dog with a friend in West London) was one of Britain's best known stars

Police believe Mr Lubbock was sexually assaulted and murdered with his body possibly moved from a jacuzzi to make it look like he had accidentally drowned 

Barrymore, now 69 – who later apologised after fleeing before police arrived, saying that he had 'panicked' – has always denied any knowledge of what happened.

He, Mr Kenney, 51, and another guest at the party, former dustman Justin Merritt, 47, were arrested in 2007 but later released without charge.

The latest arrest came after police renewed their appeal for information last year and offered a £20,000 reward, later increased to £40,000.

It coincided with a Channel 4 documentary about the case.

DCI Jennings said at the time that one or more of the eight other people at the property were involved and others might know what happened.

Mr Lubbock's death was initially assumed to be an accident by officers, who failed to secure the crime scene.

A coroner recorded an open verdict in 2002 after failing to confirm the cause of death. Alcohol, ecstasy and cocaine were found in his bloodstream.

Barrymore, now a recovering alcoholic who lives in west London, has tried to rekindle his career without success, including a stint on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006.

An Essex Police spokesman said: 'The individual arrested in March has been released without further action.'  

The other seven guests present on the night that Mr Lubbock died 

Jonathan Kenney

Kenney, 50, from Blackpool in Lancashire, was Barrymore's boyfriend at the time of Mr Lubbock's death.

He was formerly a drag queen but more recently had been working as a driving test examiner.

Kenney, along with Barrymore, invited the other seven guests over to the house after they partied together at the Millennium nightclub in Harlow, Essex.

He was one of three people arrested on suspicion of murder by Essex Police in 2007 before he was later released without charge.

Justin Merritt

Former dustman Justin, 46, was unemployed when he went back to Barrymore's house along with his sister Kylie.

Reports from the time claimed Justin was an 'unofficial minder' to the TV star during that night.

He had walked up to Barrymore outside the nightclub earlier and said: 'I'll look after you. I'll be your security to get you home.'

Mr Merritt claimed to have shared a Jacuzzi with Mr Lubbock and last saw him alive 'bombing' in the pool and in high spirits.

He, along with Barrymore and Kenney, were arrested on suspicion of murder before ultimately being released. 

Kylie Merritt 

Kylie was Justin's sister and had been present with him in the nightclub when Justin had offered to be Barrymore's minder on the night.

The siblings, along with Barrymore and Mr Lubbock shared a taxi back to the house.

Miss Merritt would later claim that she had then seen Mr Lubbock 'larking about' by himself in the swimming pool.

On another occasion, she said she saw Barrymore with two men in a small room near his bedroom door.

She would also claim that Barrymore had produced cocaine on the night and had tried to rub the drug into My Lubbock's gums, something he denied.

Ms Merritt infamously took a lie detector test for the News of the World, which suggested she was not being truthful when questioned about what happened that day.

James Futers

Mr Futers, 41, was a chef who lived near Barrymore in Roydon, Essex.

He would tell a court how the TV star offered him 'white powder' shortly after he arrived at the house for the party.

Later he would add that he believed the drug to be cocaine. 

Mr Futers had met Barrymore on several previous occasions to have a drink and 'play cards'.

He had been at the nightclub with Barrymore that night and had agreed to go back to his house for an 'impromptu' gathering.

Simon Shaw

Mr Shaw had been invited to the party due to his friendship with Barrymore's neighbour Mr Futers.

During court testimony, he recounted how he spotted Mr Lubbock in the pool and jumped in to help him.

He said he tried to pull him up from the bottom of the pool but found him to heavy, returning for breath before going back and successfully lifting him out.

Mr Shaw then left the home with Mr Futers as he thought 'what happened was a bit scary', and was joined by Barrymore.

They all went back to Mr Shaw's house, where they spoke about what had occurred while Barrymore made phone calls to his 'PR man'.

Claire Jones and Kelly Campbell 

Ms Jones, a 17-year-old cashier at the time, and her friend Kelly Campbell, both now 37, had only met Barrymore hours early at the nightclub when they were invited back for the party.

She would later tell police how she saw Barrymore rummaging through drawers and changing his clothes before police arrived.

Ms Jones also told police that when Barrymore left the house he had a 'bundle of material' under his arm.