THE man who sparked a major police investigation after having his penis cut off has been found dead, it was reported tonight.

The 40-year-old was found staggering by the side of the A66 in South Bank, Middlesbrough, last March and initially had to be placed in a medically-induced coma .

It was believed he suffered his injuries at a travellers' site where he was living on John Boyle Road in South Bank.

Cleveland Police said that officers were called to an address in King George's Terrace, South Bank, at 8.45am this morning (Thursday, May 7) after the body of a man in his 40's was found.

"The death of the man is not being treated as suspicious at this time," a police spokeswoman added.

The A66 was closed for several hours after the man was found in a "distressed state" at 4.50am on Thursday, March 13, 2014 while officers carried out a fingertip search of the road and grass verge for his missing penis.

He spent almost a month in the town's James Cook University Hospital recovering from his injuries.

A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault but was released without charge and police later closed their investigation.