THE man who was found dead on the A77 was is a convicted sex offender.

Michael Thomson, 46, was discovered inside a blue Ford Fiesta on a layby off the A77 between Whitletts and Holmston roundabouts on Saturday, July 25.

A vigilante group told the Advertiser that Thomson had been convicted and placed on the sex offenders register for five years after their operation in April 2018.

Mystery continues to surround the unexplained death as police renewed their appeal for information on Friday, July 31.

READ MORE: Ayr man found dead on A77 layby named

Detectives were probing the cars final movements before it arrived at the A77 layby.

The car was spotted next to an industrial unit on York Street in the town the night before (Friday, July 24) before heading to the A77 layby between midnight and 1am.

The A77 was shut down on the night Thomson’s body was found around 6pm.

Police returned to the scene on Tuesday, July 28 to close the road for seven hours as they searched the stretch of road and layby which sits northbound near to Dalmilling golf course.

READ MORE: A77 death: what we know so far ​

Detectives have appealed for members of the public to check for dash cam footage who might have spotted the blue Ford Fiesta, registration - LA56 HZN.

Detective Inspector Nathan Calderwood of Ayrshire CID said:"We are grateful to everyone who has already made contact with police with information.

"We are continuing to work to establish the full circumstances and would urge anyone who may have seen Mr Thomson or this car at any time on Friday, 24 and Saturday, July 25 to contact us".

"Anyone who used the A77 between the Holmston and Whitletts roundabouts and may have dashcam footage is asked to review this and pass on anything which may be of note"

"Anyone who may have seen Mr Thomson, the vehicle or who has any other information can contact police on 101, quoting incident 3125 of July 25.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland today said: “Enquiries are still ongoing.”