Unknown shrub in back garden

Could it be an Aucuba?

 

Please can you add Cornwall to your location details for all to see.

Thank you for new pics.
A rather leggy Skimmia seems best suggestion.
Pruning may not be successful.

RHS advice....
Pruning and training

• Minimal pruning is needed as skimmias have a a naturally tidy and compact growing habit
• Occasionally vigorous shoots can sometimes spoil the shape and these can be pruned back to within the shrub canopy to hide the pruning cuts in spring

Renovation

• Attempts to renovate older plants are seldom successful and such shrubs are best replaced
• If you would like to attempt renovation, prune hard back in spring, but bear in mind that the response to hard pruning is often poor
• Try to encourage new growth by application of general fertiliser as Vitax Q4, Growmore or fish, blood and bone at according to the manufacturer’s instructions around the shrub base.

 

I wouldn't say the shrub in question looks old though. There are fresh leaves near the base. It may be shooting upwards to get more light or sun.

 

I have updated my location to Cornwall in my profile settings.

I was looking to see if a very small amount of width just on one side and a small amount off the top all over could be trimmed off but I am concerned that this might be risky.

I think someone on this thread said they thought that it will have flowered already from the red stems on most/all of the branches and that they thought it would be ok to prune back lightly now.

What are your thoughts on this please?

 

I think Drimys lanceolata as someone suggested earlier. I have a small one and it has that distinctive red colouring near the stem.

 

Thank you for supplying more photos, I agree with suggestions by Pete & Silver surfer, it's looking much more like a neglected Skimmia. Since there is no smell with the leaves and I can't see any tell tale red stems.

 

Ah, I mistook the pictures @Silver surfer posted for new pictures from the OP.

 

I agree with silver surfer , my mum had one like this, and leaves look the same,