THE  body of a Devon man who  went missing from his home  last year has been found.

 The body of Simon Jay, 42, of  Newton Abbot, who disappeared on December 13, was  found by a dog walker between  Haytor and Saddle Tor on Dartmoor.

 It was seen among gorse  bushes following a swayling operation — the process of burning off the gorse or heather to  allow fresh grass underneath to  grow and to prevent the gorse  from taking over.

Mr Jay’s identity was confirmed in a post-mortem examination and his family and  friends have been informed.

 Police said there were no suspicious injuries but the cause of  death is as yet unknown.

 Investigators are now collecting information for the coroner.

 Detective Inspector Sam de  Reya said: “I would like to take  this opportunity to thank all of  the members of the public who  supported this investigation  and also the Dartmoor Search  and Rescue Group and the  Search and Rescue Dog Association who were involved in  numerous searches.

“Our thoughts go out to Simon’s family and friends.”

Police had been searching for  Mr Jay since he walked out of  his home without any explanation and disappeared.

 As reported in the Echo, police divers searched a pond in  woodland near Berry Pomeroy  Castle, near Totnes, in January.  The five-strong team spent two  hours searching the pond for  Mr Jay with no results.

 Last year, they brought in  search-and-rescue dogs to comb  the woodland around the pond   but the weather was too cold to  send in the dive team then.

 Mr Jay used to live in the  Berry Pomeroy area and used to  walk in the wooded area.

Divers also investigated  Great Ambrook Ponds, near  Ipplepen, breaking through ice  before starting the search.

And officers carried out a  land and air search in the Dartington area of the South Hams.

The force helicopter, a police  dog and handler, the Tactical  Aid Group and a number of  other officers searched Dartington estate and the surrounding  area.

But there had been no sightings of Mr Jay since he left his  home.

His family, including his girlfriend Emma, issued an appeal  for him to come home.

Police had said they had serious concerns about his wellbeing. Speaking shortly after  his disappearance, Inspector  Phil Chivers said: “It’s fair to  say Mr Jay was troubled when  he went missing but this behaviour is completely out of  character for him.”