Millionaire hotelier stabbed to death at his home

TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to a millionaire hotelier who died after suffering stab wounds at his home.

Sir Richard Sutton died during an incident at a property near Gillingham, Dorset.

Dorset Police said a man in his 80s suffered fatal stab wounds at a property in Higher Langham on Wednesday.

A woman in her 60s, named in reports as Sir Richard’s wife, was critically injured in the incident and was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Police said a 34-year-old man, who was known to the victims, was arrested in the Hammersmith area of London after a vehicle was stopped by the Met Police.

The suspect, who was from the Gillingham area, was later taken to hospital for treatment to injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Sir Richard was one of the UK’s wealthiest people and featured in the Sunday Times Rich List in 2017 with assets valued at over £200m.

He had an extensive property and farming portfolio, including the 6,500-acre Benham Estate, in West Berkshire, and the Stainton Estate, in Lincolnshire.

In a statement, Sir Richard Sutton Ltd said: “Sir Richard was a caring, generous and warm family man, who genuinely regarded those who worked for him as part of his extended family.

“Sir Richard was passionately devoted to both his company and its people, setting the highest standards for quality in the hotel, farming and property interests within the group.”

Police urge anyone with information to contact officers.

Detective Inspector Simon Huxter, who is leading the investigation, said: “We will be carrying out a full investigation to establish exactly what happened at the address in Higher Langham.”