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| Man held over roadside stabbing of 79-year-old Donald Lock | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a pensioner who was stabbed after his car went into the back of another vehicle. | A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a pensioner who was stabbed after his car went into the back of another vehicle. |
| Donald Lock, 79, from Worthing, was killed in what police described as a “frenzied attack” after a crash on a village road near Findon, West Sussex, on Thursday night. | Donald Lock, 79, from Worthing, was killed in what police described as a “frenzied attack” after a crash on a village road near Findon, West Sussex, on Thursday night. |
| Lock was driving south on the A24 when he struck the rear of a car that was travelling in the same direction. Police said he was stabbed several times, allegedly by the other driver who then got back in his car and drove off. Lock died at the scene despite attempts by paramedics to revive him. | |
| Armed officers arrested the suspect, also from Worthing, at 2pm on Friday. | Armed officers arrested the suspect, also from Worthing, at 2pm on Friday. |
| Det Supt Adam Hibbert, of the Sussex and Surrey major crime branch, said: “A man is in custody on suspicion of murder. I continue to appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision on the A24 at 8.40pm last night, or who may have CCTV or dashboard cameras of the area at that time, to come to assist our investigation.” | |
| In a statement, Lock’s family said he had recently been cleared of cancer. The statement, issued through Sussex police, said: “Don had been a keen cyclist since the age of 12 and had been an active member of the Worthing Excelsior cycling club since 1960. He was not your typical great-grandfather and was still cycling up to 150 miles per week. | |
| “He still holds the club record for the 24-hour time trial having remained unbeaten for 44 years. He was full of energy having recently been given the all-clear from cancer.” | “He still holds the club record for the 24-hour time trial having remained unbeaten for 44 years. He was full of energy having recently been given the all-clear from cancer.” |
| Lock, who had two children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, was to have a sixth great-grandchild later this year, the statement added. | Lock, who had two children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, was to have a sixth great-grandchild later this year, the statement added. |
| Shortly before the arrest, Sussex police made a televised appeal for the public’s help: “Mr Lock was the victim of a frenzied attack that he had no chance to defend himself against. The attacker has then driven off but at this stage we have a limited description of his vehicle. | Shortly before the arrest, Sussex police made a televised appeal for the public’s help: “Mr Lock was the victim of a frenzied attack that he had no chance to defend himself against. The attacker has then driven off but at this stage we have a limited description of his vehicle. |
| “We are looking for an extremely dangerous man and need the public’s help to identify and arrest him urgently. The attacker’s vehicle is likely to have suffered minor damage to the rear. The attacker is likely to have had a substantial amount of blood on him after the murder. This could also be on his vehicle.” | “We are looking for an extremely dangerous man and need the public’s help to identify and arrest him urgently. The attacker’s vehicle is likely to have suffered minor damage to the rear. The attacker is likely to have had a substantial amount of blood on him after the murder. This could also be on his vehicle.” |
| Officers carried out house-to-house inquiries in the area of the incident and appealed for CCTV footage. They said they were attempting to trace a man described as white, aged 30-40, 6ft tall with a skinny frame, a thin face and shoulder-length wavy dark blond or brown hair. He was said to have been driving a pale-coloured “old-style” vehicle. | Officers carried out house-to-house inquiries in the area of the incident and appealed for CCTV footage. They said they were attempting to trace a man described as white, aged 30-40, 6ft tall with a skinny frame, a thin face and shoulder-length wavy dark blond or brown hair. He was said to have been driving a pale-coloured “old-style” vehicle. |
| At the scene, flowers were placed and tributes were paid to Lock. John Lucas, who said he had known Lock for more than 50 years, said his death was “a terrible thing”. | At the scene, flowers were placed and tributes were paid to Lock. John Lucas, who said he had known Lock for more than 50 years, said his death was “a terrible thing”. |
| “He was an unbelievable guy. He would do anything for anyone. I can’t understand how it happened,” Lucas said. “He wouldn’t have got out of the car and caused any trouble at all. He wasn’t that type of guy.” | “He was an unbelievable guy. He would do anything for anyone. I can’t understand how it happened,” Lucas said. “He wouldn’t have got out of the car and caused any trouble at all. He wasn’t that type of guy.” |
| Another tribute card at the scene read: “Grandad, there are no words to express how I’m feeling. I have lost a very special grandad. My only grandad. I love you so much. You will be truly missed by so many people. I just wish I could hug you one last time.” | Another tribute card at the scene read: “Grandad, there are no words to express how I’m feeling. I have lost a very special grandad. My only grandad. I love you so much. You will be truly missed by so many people. I just wish I could hug you one last time.” |
| Adrian Palmer, Worthing Excelsior’s club secretary, said Lock had been at a 10-mile time trial that the club held every Thursday evening of the summer. “I don’t think [Lock] was involved in the marshalling, but he turned up and socialised with the rest of the group, and then he went home – and this happened,” he said. | Adrian Palmer, Worthing Excelsior’s club secretary, said Lock had been at a 10-mile time trial that the club held every Thursday evening of the summer. “I don’t think [Lock] was involved in the marshalling, but he turned up and socialised with the rest of the group, and then he went home – and this happened,” he said. |
| He described Lock as a long-serving, committed member of the club who for many years had been its backbone. He said: “Don was a kind, gentle and fair man and a good friend. He was also well respected throughout the cycling fraternity. | He described Lock as a long-serving, committed member of the club who for many years had been its backbone. He said: “Don was a kind, gentle and fair man and a good friend. He was also well respected throughout the cycling fraternity. |
| “Don was an enthusiastic member and, although he no longer raced, would always support the club in its many ventures and would offer support, guidance and encouragement to all.” | |
| The A24 was shut in both directions near the scene of the incident and police said diversions would remain in place for the foreseeable future. | The A24 was shut in both directions near the scene of the incident and police said diversions would remain in place for the foreseeable future. |