An Earlsfield man in his 30s has laid claim to the “manic” laugh captured the night sex offender Andrew Cunningham was murdered.

The man, who police have now eliminated from their enquiries, came forward after hearing an audio clip of himself on Crimewatch on Tuesday.

It appears he was just sharing a joke when he was captured on a CCTV microphone near the murder scene, in Riverside Road near Wimbledon Statium.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola said: “It was just one of the locals. We have spoken to him before, but we didn’t play the laugh to everyone we have spoken to.

He added: “He’s definitely not the killer.”

No further leads have come forward so far, despite a £20,000 reward issued this week for information leading to the prosecution of the killer.

The distinctive sound was captured the night before Mr Cunningham, 52, was found in a pool of blood in his caravan with mangled genitals.

Police now believe the grisly murder in Riverside Road, near Wimbledon Stadium, was the work of robbers, rather than vigilantes as some people thought.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola said: “There’s more to this than him being on the sex offenders register. Clearly the motive goes deeper than that."

Footage from the night of Tuesday, December 9, was shown on Crimewatch on Tuesday night.

Police revealed this week the attackers ransacked the caravan where Mr Cunningham lived, stealing a wallet containing up to £6,000 and a Scottish £100 note.

They hope someone may remember cashing or handling the distinctive note during or after Christmas 2008.

Locals assumed Mr Cunningham was murdered by vigilantes who knew about his conviction for unlawful sex with a 15-yearold girl in 2001, but police have always said this could be a red herring.

D Chief Insp Scola said: “We are working on the theory that it was actually a robbery, although he was stabbed and people have speculated it was because he was on the sex offenders register.

“The caravan was searched. Even Christmas presents were opened up. Dishonesty was central to this.

“I think the kind of person who will carry out those injuries for the purpose of theft is a dangerous person, which is why we have offered a substantial reward.”

The man’s 14-year-old friend Lucy told the Wandsworth Guardian in December he was in arguments over money owed to him and sent her messages suggesting he sensed danger.

The trucker, who died of head, neck and chest stab wounds, was last seen at 6.10pm outside his caravan before he was discovered dead at 8am the next day.

To report information on this case, call the incident room on 020 8721 4005 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous.

• Do you know more? Let us know by email here, phone the newsdesk on 020 8330 9555 or leave a comment below.