Relatives mourn ‘the loveliest person that you will ever meet’

Pc Andrew Harper had been married to his wife Lissie barely a month when he was killed while attending the scene of a burglary on Thursday.

The couple, both 28, were together for 10 years before they got engaged in Italy in May 2017 and had been due to go on their honeymoon in a few days.

Now his young widow and their wider family have been left “absolutely bereft” at his death in the line of duty.

Photographs posted by the couple on Facebook at the end of July show them at their wedding, posing for photographs in the Georgian grounds of Ardington House, near Oxford.

One shows Lissie holding a romantic card from Pc Harper which read: “Life is slippery. Here, take my hand.”

Dale Shrimpton, Pc Harper’s uncle, from Burnham, near Windsor, wrote on Facebook: “He’s my oldest nephew. My sister’s first-born. Mum and dad’s first grandson ... And was married two weeks ago at a dream wedding. We are devastated. He was the loveliest person that you will ever meet. I can’t begin to tell you how we feel.”

Maureen Shrimpton, Pc Harper’s grandmother, added: “Just a really horrible day. Our grandson Andrew was killed last night while doing his police work. So proud of him. Our love goes to his lovely wife, Mum and Dad, brother and his family and friends.”

Pc Harper, who was born in Oxford, joined Thames Valley Police in 2010, first as a special constable, becoming a regular officer the following year.

One tribute from a fellow officer said Pc Harper had helped her when she suffered domestic violence.

Sally Benatar, leader of the Met’s South West London Borough Command Unit, wrote on Twitter: “Pc Harper was the officer in the [domestic violence case I was involved in]. He was brilliant and gave me the courage to take steps to change my life. I can’t thank him enough. He was a top officer.”

In a recent post, Pc Harper’s widow said: “I can’t believe our wedding was almost two weeks ago... Thank you so much to everyone who came and who helped to make it the most perfect day.”

Pc Harper had planned to take part in a charity run at the Dirty Weekend 2020 Burghley, a 20-mile obstacle course for Children with Cancer UK.

‘He was brilliant and gave me the courage to take steps to change my life. I can’t thank him enough’