Young banker killed by a single punch
A banker has died after being punched to the ground in an unprovoked street attack. Oliver Dearlove, 30, who worked for a private banking firm, was attacked in Blackheath, south London, as he enjoyed an evening with former university friends. Detectives have said they are keeping an “open mind” about the attack and have appealed for four women who were talking to Mr Dearlove shortly before the incident to come forward.
A SUCCESSFUL banker who had been planning to start a family with his girlfriend has died after being punched in an unprovoked street attack.
Oliver Dearlove, 30, who worked for a private banking firm, was attacked in Tranquil Vale in the Blackheath area of south London just after midnight on-Saturday, as he enjoyed an evening out with former university friends.
It is thought he was punched to the ground following a minor altercation with another man in the street.
The talented footballer, who was due to fly to Las Vegas next week to celebrate turning 30, was airlifted to hospital in east London but could not be saved and was pronounced dead a short time later.
His girlfriend, Claire Wheatley, who lived with Mr Dearlove in Eltham, south-east London, described him as the “kindest person” and said he would always walk away from trouble. She told The Guardian: “We were trying to get some money together so we could buy a house together. We had big plans. We were planning on having a baby as well.
“He was the kindest person. He was the most amazing person I’ve ever met and ever known.”
Miss Wheatley, who had been with Mr Dearlove for four years after meet- ing him at a New Year’s Eve party, said she had last heard from him on Saturday evening at around 10pm when he sent her a text message that simply said: “Love You”.
Mr Dearlove worked as a relationship manager for the private bank Duncan Lawrie and had previously worked for Coutts and Barclays. Mr Dearlove’s mother, Joy Wright, said her son had spent the afternoon and evening with a group of former university friends, but was attacked by an unknown assailant.
She said: “I don’t think there was an altercation. I think someone said to him and his friends, ‘what are you looking at?’ and that was it. I think he stopped breathing when he hit the floor. His friends gave him CPR.”
Miss Wheatley added: “He and his friends aren’t the kind of guys who look for trouble. They would normally avoid things like that.”
Paying tribute to her son, Mrs Wright said: “He was very easy-going, lots and lots of friends, played lots of football. He studied hard at school. He worked for a private bank in Belgravia. He had been travelling for a year. He did what most nice people do.”
Detectives have said they are keeping an “open mind” as to what might have led up to the attack and have appealed for four women who were talking to Mr Dearlove shortly before the incident to come forward.
‘We were planning on having a baby. He was the kindest person, the most amazing person I’ve known’