Ian Tomlin death: First picture of father found dead outside flat in Battersea

Police put a cordon in place at the scene
PA
Jacob Jarvis19 October 2018
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This is the first picture of a former boxer and father found beaten to death in Battersea.

Ian Tomlin, 46, was found slumped by the lifts outside his flat in south-west London on Wednesday night.

Two men, in their 40s, were arrested on suspicion of murder following the incident, Scotland Yard said.

The father drove council buses for the elderly and disabled.

Police at the crime scene cordon
Nigel Howard

According to his father, Cecil Tomlin, the victim frequently confronted drug dealers on the estate where he lived.

Scotland Yard confirmed this was a line of inquiry the force was looking into.

The arrests were made following information passed to the police by the public, said Peter Gardner, superintendent head of the CID for Wandsworth Police.

He added that CCTV footage had also been "instrumental" in aiding officers but did not say whether the men were residents of the estate or if they knew the victim.

Mr Gardner said: "This is a tragic incident and it's absolutely senseless.

"We will do everything within our power to investigate this fully, bring those responsible to justice and to support the family through this devastating time."

Mr Gardner denied that the police force had lost control of the capital's streets.

He said: "I certainly don't feel it's like that but I understand residents' frustration, we will do everything to bring this investigation to conclusion and justice to those involved and continue to do so, for all instances like this.

"I don't feel at all that we've lost control of the streets, I think that's not at all accurate."

However, Mr Gardner said there had been previous drug-related problems on the estate.

The killing marked the 106th homicide investigation launched in London this year
Nigel Howard

He would not confirm or deny reports a gunshot was heard by local residents a few weeks previously.

An operation in the area last year saw 54 arrests of people for drugs and other related offences, including possession of an offensive weapon.

Earlier on Friday, Scotland Yard said two suspects, in their 40s, were arrested from separate addresses by officers on suspicion of Mr Tomlin's murder.

Police and Forensic Staff at the Crime Scene in Battersea
NIGEL HOWARD

Police were called to Cromwell House in Charlotte Despard Avenue at around 5.30pm yesterday to reports of a group of men fighting.

Mr Tomlin was found in a communal area “with injuries after having been assaulted”, police said.

He was a father-of-two who drove council buses for the elderly and disabled.

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