The man beaten and robbed by thugs during the London riots died in hospital late last night as it emerged he had suffered at the hands of yobs for years.
After three days spent on a life support machine Richard Mannington Bowes, 68, died as a result of the serious head injuries he sustained at the height of the riots on Monday night.
He was set upon by thugs and knocked over as he tried to stamp out a fire.
Attacked: Richard Mannington Bowes, 68, was critically injured after the riots in Ealing and had lived as a virtual recluse, deliberately cut off from his family since shortly after his sister's wedding, at which he is pictured right
And as detectives today questioned a 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder, it has emerged Mr Mannington Bowes was a civic-minded man of old fashioned values who had been forced to confront yobs on his own doorstep for years.
The reclusive former accountant had long been tormented by thugs who urinated on his front door and threw litter outside his home, according to friends and neighbours.
However, his courage and habit of never walking away from something he considered wrong eventually cost him his life.
Police said next of kin have been informed and a post-mortem examination will be held in due course.Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: ‘This was a brutal incident that resulted in the senseless killing of an innocent man.
‘I still need the assistance of the community who may have witnessed the attack on Richard, to come forward and provide information or images they may have recorded on mobile devices. This information could be crucial in catching his killer.’
Aid: A bystander and riot officer tend to Mr Bowes injuries before he was taken to hospital
Help: Richard Mannington Bowes, left, is assisted by Peter Firstbrook and a police officer during the riots in Ealing
Strong suspect: The man police are hunting as part of the murder investigation
Prior to his death, his sister last night spoke of her distress at his plight and Mayor of London Boris Johnson described him as a ‘hero’. In fact, it was the first time in 30 years that Mr Bowes and his sister, mother of three Anne Wilderspin, 73, have been in contact.
Mrs Wilderspin, who lives in Derbyshire, has travelled down to London to see her gravely ill brother.
‘I was shocked,’ she said. ‘It was sort of unreal because you don’t think anything like that happens to a relative of yours.
‘We’ve been horrified by the reports of the riots. I’m very sad that we have to see him like this, but in one way I’m very pleased that we could make contact again.’
Boris Johnson, on a visit to see the riot damage in the West London suburb, said: ‘There are many villains in this story but also many heroes and I want to pay particular tribute to Mr Bowes.
‘But he has paid a terrible price. I am desperately sorry for him.’
Neighbours described Mr Bowes, who lived alone in a flat overlooking Haven Green, as a man who would always stand up to trouble makers.
One local businessman, who was himself being attacked, said: ‘Mr Bowes had a real civic pride.
‘He was a very quiet man who cared greatly about his neighbourhood. We do have some drunks at the weekend occasionally causing trouble and Mr Bowes would always challenge them and tell them off.
Concern: A police officer and another man come to the victim's aid in one of the most horrifying pictures to emerge from the rioting
Wider shot: The suspect police are hunting as part of the murder investigation
‘He was a true gentleman who had old fashioned values.’
Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane said the investigation could turn into a murder inquiry and appealed for Mr Bowes’s assailant to give himself up.
A handful of police had arrived at 10.45pm on Monday to reports of looting in Ealing. Massively outnumbered, they called for back-up as they were showered with missiles and saw Mr Bowes being attacked.
Bystander father-of-four Peter Firstbrook dragged the pensioner away from the fire.
The 60-year-old documentary filmmaker, who broke through the lines of rioters to help, said: ‘There were about 120 youths. One of them, a big black lad in his early twenties, approached me and said something like: "There’s one of your lot over there and he’s injured".'
‘Three young lads from the crowd also seemed quite concerned and helped me drag him to an alleyway. He was unconscious and had blood coming from his ear. There were no external injuries.’ dailymail.co.uk
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