A father-of-two died ‘trying to protect his young children from drug dealers’ outside his London home. Former boxer Ian Tomlin, 46, was beaten to death at the block of flats where his family lives on Wednesday. Witnesses said there was ‘blood everywhere’ and claimed the bus driver was also stabbed in the neck.
He was pronounced dead at the scene in Battersea, south London.
Ian’s grieving father Cecil Tomlin, 84, said he believed drug dealers killed his son. He told reporters at the scene: ‘He has been afraid of them. He don’t smoke and they were selling drugs outside his house.
‘He said “Don’t sell here!” He said “Don’t come here and sell drugs because I can’t stand the scent of it”.’ He urged the government to bring his son justice: ‘He was a very good father.
I know he was a good man, he was very good, he was very kind to everybody. Everybody likes him. ‘The government needs to do something because they a very bad men.’
Police cordons remain at the scene. No arrests have been made and officers continue to appeal for witnesses. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘Police have launched a murder investigation after a man died following an assault in Battersea.
‘Officers were called at 5.30pm on Wednesday to reports of a group of males fighting at Charlotte Despard Avenue. ‘Police attended along with paramedics and London’s Air Ambulance.
‘At the scene a 46-year-old man was found with injuries after having been assaulted. ‘He was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.15pm. Next of kin have been informed and a post-mortem will be scheduled in due course.’
He added: ‘All other suspects had fled the scene prior to police arrival.
‘The incident took place within a communal area of a block of flats in Charlotte Despard Avenue. ‘Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating and ask anyone with information that could assist their enquiries to call the incident room.’
A witness who wished to remain anonymous said: ‘The first floor is used for drug dealing. Police know it happens every single day. ‘He was on his back in his boxers and police were trying to resuscitate him. ‘He’s obviously been stabbed in his neck and the head. There was blood everywhere.
‘I would personally blame the people who are fully aware of what’s going on. ‘Wandsworth Council are not ignorant of the fact that this drug dealing situation has been happening.’ Ian was described by neighbours as the ‘loveliest, kindest guy’, on Thursday.
A woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, added: ‘He was a devoted dad.’ She continued: ‘Ian was very against the drug dealers right where he was murdered on that first floor landing and especially the antisocial behaviour when he had his children with him – noise up to four of five in the morning. ‘The police haven’t been able to tackle the rise of drugs on this estate.
‘I’m absolutely terrified. He was a young, strong really lovely black guy who was the nicest kindest person and he was really muscular.
‘You could tell he was a boxer. If they can kill him they can kill anyone. ‘I believe it was five people – it would have taken five, it’s just terrifying.
The neighbour said Ian lived alone in his ground floor flat for at least ten years, while his two young children and their mum lived on the second floor. Another witness said the gang of drug dealers ‘hide from the police behind my kids’ nursery’. He added: ‘Everyone is too afraid to talk. I phone complaints but nothing happens.’
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