Driver killed in lorry robbery

Ian Jones was described as well liked and well respected

A delivery driver has been run down and killed as he tried to stop thieves stealing his lorry in east London.

Ian Jones, 44, from Hawkhurst in Kent was run over as he stood in front of his 18-ton lorry in a service yard in Chingford on Thursday.

He pulled in to deliver goods to the Currys store in Hall Lane just before 1300 BST and had gone inside to tell staff he had arrived.

But a white Ford Transit box van pulled into the service area, with up to three men inside, one of whom got into Mr Jones' lorry and tried to drive it away.

Mr Jones stood in front of the lorry but was run over. He died from his injuries shortly afterwards.

It is unbelievable and unforgivable Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Gibson

His Dixons lorry and the van then sped off across Hall Lane and down Burnham Road, forcing a dust cart off the road and mounting a pavement.

They pulled up at a junction on Sinclair Road and transferred electrical goods from the lorry to the van as nearby residents looked on. The white van was later found on fire in Epping Forest.

Richard Braybrook, Curry's area manager, described Mr Jones as a "very well liked and very well respected employee".

He added: "It is an absolutely tragic incident. Currys is doing everything it can to help the police with their investigation and we pass on our sincere condolences to Ian's family and friends."

Particularly callous crime

Police have begun a murder investigation and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. The suspects are described as three young white men.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Gibson, described it as "a particularly callous crime".

He added: "The suspects must have known they had run him over and yet continued with their crime to exchange the goods from one vehicle to another just streets away. It is unbelievable and unforgivable.

"This was an innocent man going about his daily business. To be subjected to the theft of goods is one thing. But this has turned into a horrific and callous murder that has left me appalled."