Moment armed police arrest murder suspect, 34, in swoop 100 miles from £2m Dorset mansion

This is the dramatic moment armed police swooped on a Range Rover driver and arrested him on suspicion of murdering one of Britain’s richest men who was stabbed to death in his country mansion – as his wife continues to fight for her life.   

Three hours after £301million baronet Sir Richard Sutton, 83, was killed inside his £2million home in north Dorset on Wednesday night, police performed a ‘hard stop’ on the 34-year-old man 100 miles away in Chiswick, West London after tracking him across five counties. 

Pictures from the scene show the 4×4 had been boxed in by at least four police cars, before the driver – who is said to have been unemployed and living on Sir Richard’s county estate – was carried away in a stretcher after he was found to have received ‘a number of serious self-inflicted injuries’. A knife, passport, shoes and jeans were found at the scene.

The man suffered stab wounds, according to an eyewitness. He received medical treatment for more than an hour, initially by police with a defibrillator before paramedics took over. The suspect was eventually put on a stretcher with an oxygen mask and taken to hospital in an ambulance. 

Sir Richard’s second wife, named locally as Anne Schreiber, 65, a Danish-born physiotherapist, this morning remained in a ‘critical’ condition in hospital after suffering knife injuries in the attack at their country house, Moorhill. 

A family member who lives close by is understood to have raised the alarm when they failed to get through to the house about three miles from Gillingham in Dorset.  

Pictures from the scene show the 4×4 had been boxed in by police in Chiswick, London, before the driver – who was believed to be known to Sir Richard – was carried away in a stretcher after he was found to have received ‘a number of serious self-inflicted injuries’ 

Police attended an accident involving a Range Rover (pictured) in Chiswick on Wednesday evening. The vehicle is seen with severe damage

Police attended an accident involving a Range Rover (pictured) in Chiswick on Wednesday evening. The vehicle is seen with severe damage

Found: Knife, shoes, jeans and a passport on the ground found at the scene of the crash

Found: Knife, shoes, jeans and a passport on the ground found at the scene of the crash

The millionaire landowner, who is divorced from first wife Italian Fiamma Sutton, has two children, son, David, 61, and daughter, Caroline, 55, (pictured) as well as five grandchildren

The millionaire landowner, who is divorced from first wife Italian Fiamma Sutton, has two children, son, David, 61, and daughter, Caroline, 55, (pictured) as well as five grandchildren

A woman, thought to be his second wife, named locally as Anne Schreiber (pictured), is also believed to have suffered knife injuries in the attack at the home, named Moorhill

A woman, thought to be his second wife, named locally as Anne Schreiber (pictured), is also believed to have suffered knife injuries in the attack at the home, named Moorhill

Sir Richard – described as an ‘old English gentry land owner’ – recently ranked at number 435 on the Sunday Times Rich List with a fortune of £301million and owned the five-star Sheraton Grand on London’s prestigious Park Lane and the Athenaeum in Piccadilly

He owned other hotels in Bath, Cheltenham and Windsor, 7,000 acres of land in Dorset, Berkshire, London, Lincolnshire and Aberdeenshire, and had farming and property businesses.

Sir Richard, who became the ninth baronet of Norwood Park, Nottingham, in 1981, is divorced from first wife Italian Fiamma Sutton, has two children, son, David, 61, and daughter, Caroline, 55, as well as five grandchildren. Ms  Schreiber has three grown up children from a previous marriage, two daughters, Louisa, 39, Rose, 35 and a son Thomas, 34. 

Ms Schreiber owns and runs The London Road clinic in Sherborne, Dorset, an exclusive clinic with services such as osteopathy, physiotherapy and counselling. In 2012, she offered her advice for easing the pain of swollen limbs in an interview with the Daily Mail. 

The 34-year-old man who was arrested on Wednesday night was often seen in the tiny hamlet of Higher Langham and was described by one neighbour as a ‘lovely man.’ 

‘We would see him about quite often. He was a lovely man and very chatty. I don’t think he had a job as he was around here so often’ the neighbour told MailOnline. 

A police statement said of Wednesday’s arrest: ‘At approximately 22.30pm on Wednesday, 7 April, police stopped a vehicle in Chiswick High Road. When they approached the vehicle, officers discovered that the lone male occupant had sustained a number of serious self-inflicted injuries.

‘First aid was commenced immediately and the London Ambulance Service were called. The male was taken to a west London hospital. His injuries have been assessed as non-life threatening.’  

The Ranger Rover was tailed by two marked police 4×4 cars and an unmarked BMW X5 as it travelled along the Chiswick High Road in west London at about 10.45pm on Wednesday night.

One of the Metropolitan Police 4x4s appeared to have clipped the back of the Range Rover as the X5 pulled in front of it to perform a hard stop.

The Metropolitan Police operation involved armed police, police dog handlers and the force helicopter.  

On Wednesday night police arrested a 34-year-old man, known to Sir Richard, on suspicion of murder. Pictured: A map showing how police tracked the suspect from Dorset to London

On Wednesday night police arrested a 34-year-old man, known to Sir Richard, on suspicion of murder. Pictured: A map showing how police tracked the suspect from Dorset to London

The scene in Chiswick on Wednesday night, where at least four police vehicles were involved in boxing in the driver

The scene in Chiswick on Wednesday night, where at least four police vehicles were involved in boxing in the driver 

Police guard Sir Richard's £2million property yesterday. The landowner, 83, who owns twice as much land as the Ministry of Defence - is estimated to be worth £301million

Police guard Sir Richard’s £2million property yesterday. The landowner, 83, who owns twice as much land as the Ministry of Defence – is estimated to be worth £301million

An eyewitness told MailOnline on Wednesday evening: ‘I counted about 17 police cars and two ambulances. The whole street was bathed in flashing blue lights.

Sir Richard Sutton: Baronet and hotelier with a £301million fortune  

Hotelier Sir Richard Lexington Sutton, 83 – who owns twice as much land as the Ministry of Defence – is estimated to be worth £301million.

He is a baronet, a hereditary honour awarded by the monarch. It is the lowest-ranking hereditary title, but baronets are able to use the prefix ‘sir.

The Sutton Baronetcy of Norwood Park in the County of Nottingham, dates back to October 1772.

It was created by King George III for politician Richard Sutton.He was the second surviving son of the distinguished diplomat Sir Robert Sutton. 

The latter was the grandson of Henry Sutton, brother of Robert Sutton, 1st Baron Lexinton. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the family seat was at Benham Place. However, the house was sold in 1982.

Sir Richard became the ninth baronet of Norwood Park, Nottingham, in 1981, after inheriting the title from his father. 

The aristocrat’s wealth was put at £301 million in May 2020, placing him 435th on The Sunday Times Rich List. 

He owned the Sheraton Grand on London’s prestigious Park Lane and the Athenaeum in Piccadilly, in addition to other hotels in Bath, Cheltenham and Windsor, 7,000 acres of land in Dorset, Berkshire, London, Lincolnshire and Aberdeenshire, and several farming and property businesses.

‘There had been two or three large bangs, which drew me to the window. I saw what looked to be a Range Rover that had come to a stop between two police 4x4s and a BMW X5.

‘The police swarmed around the Range Rover and the driver was brought out and laid out on the road. He was clearly in some distress, the police crowded around him and began to assess his injuries.

‘They cut his clothes off, his shirt and trousers, and then wrapped him in a silver foil wrap as they administered first aid.

‘I saw an officer go to the back of the X5 and bring out what looked like a defibrillator. The ambulances showed up a short while later.

‘The paramedics took over the medical treatment. The driver of the Range Rover appeared to be conscious as the officers were talking to him and I could see him move slightly.

‘After maybe an hour to 90-minutes he was placed on a stretcher with an oxygen mask over his mouth and placed in the back of one of the ambulances.’ 

The witness continued: ‘It was a big, big operation. There were armed police everywhere and a dog unit. At least two helicopters hovered overhead.

‘The forensics arrived in the early hours and were searching the scene of the stop. They were there until about 4am this morning.’

The crash was captured on camera by resident Maureen Kane, 50, whose flat overlooks the street.

Ms Kane, who works in video marketing, told how up to 40 police officer attended the scene.

She said: ‘I just heard a loud screech of cars swerving and then crash sounds. Then I looked out of my window and saw lots of armed police jumping on top of a car and aiming guns at a man and all around his car.

‘He was a white male in his 30s and seemed to be injured.’ 

The Ranger Rover had been tailed by two marked police 4x4 cars and an unmarked BMW X5 as it travelled along the Chiswick High Road in west London at about 10.45pm on Wednesday night

The Ranger Rover had been tailed by two marked police 4×4 cars and an unmarked BMW X5 as it travelled along the Chiswick High Road in west London at about 10.45pm on Wednesday night

Hotelier Sir Richard Lexington Sutton (pictured), 83, was found stabbed to death inside his £2million home in north Dorset, on Wednesday night

Hotelier Sir Richard Lexington Sutton (pictured), 83, was found stabbed to death inside his £2million home in north Dorset, on Wednesday night

Sir Richard also owned the luxury Athenaeum Hotel and Spa on London's Piccadilly Road

Sir Richard also owned the luxury Athenaeum Hotel and Spa on London’s Piccadilly Road 

Sir Richard is the owner of the luxurious five-star Sheraton Grand (pictured) in London's prestigious Park Lane

Sir Richard is the owner of the luxurious five-star Sheraton Grand (pictured) in London’s prestigious Park Lane

The ambulance arrived within 30 minutes, Ms Kane said, adding: ‘Police were still in the road and had all the roads blocked for hours after this until I went to bed at 2am.

‘I’ve not heard anything about it from my neighbours or anything since.’

Sir Richard was found with fatal stab wounds following the attack at his large detached home near Gillingham, Dorset. He bought the Moorhill country estate, set in the tiny hamlet of Higher Langham, in 2014 for £1.4million.

Sir Richard, who inherited his estate with his baronetcy in 1981, has been described as an ‘old English gentry landowner’. 

Alongside his two Park Lane hotels he owned a swathe of property and farms across the country. 

A spokesman for the Sir Richard Sutton Limited (SRSL) said on Wednesday: ‘We are deeply saddened and devastated by the sudden death of Sir Richard Sutton, announced this morning.

‘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 and standards for quality in the hotels, farming and property interests within the group.

‘His loss will be felt by everyone within the company, those who worked with him, and his family who have lost an incredible individual. Our thoughts are with the Sutton family at this tragic time.’ 

Sir Richard’s company has donated more than £240,000 to the Conservative Party in the past 20 years.

Yesterday three police vans were seen at the entrance to a long drive which leads to the remote property, while forensics officers were observed inside.

A neighbour said: ‘The Suttons live there. They have two grown up children and grandchildren. It is just awful. You would never imagine something like this could happen. They are lovely people.’ 

The property is a large detached home in a tiny hamlet, near Gillingham, Dorset. Pictured: Flowers left at the scene yesterday, as police continue their investigation

The property is a large detached home in a tiny hamlet, near Gillingham, Dorset. Pictured: Flowers left at the scene yesterday, as police continue their investigation

A woman, believed to be his wife, also suffered knife injuries in the attack at the home, named Moorhill. Pictured: Police at the scene yesterday

A woman, believed to be his wife, also suffered knife injuries in the attack at the home, named Moorhill. Pictured: Police at the scene yesterday 

A local farmer said: ‘I saw a search helicopter with a spotlight overhead on Wednesday night and then an air ambulance landed. The people who live there is an old English gentry landowner and his wife.’

Another neighbour said they were aware of police helicopters flying over the house for a number of hours.

Their family has been informed and the Dorset coroner has been notified of the death.

Detective Inspector Simon Huxter, of Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family of the man who sadly died and the injured woman at this extremely difficult time and they are being supported by specially-trained officers.

‘We will be carrying out a full investigation to establish exactly what happened at the address in Higher Langham and I would appeal to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area on the evening of April 7 to please contact us.

‘A cordon remains in place at the address and there will continue to be a heavy police presence in the vicinity as we carry out enquiries. 

‘Officers can be approached by members of the public with any information or concerns.’

Sir Richard Lexington Sutton, 9th Baronet, was head of the Sutton family, which owns land in Dorset, Berkshire, London and Lincolnshire and Aberdeenshire.

He married wife Fiamma in 1959, but the pair are said to have divorced. It is believe she now lives at a farm in a village near Hungerford, Berks. 

Local MP Simon Hoare, who knew Sir Richard Sutton well, paid tribute to the landowner who he said was a ‘country gentleman’. 

Yesterday three police vans were seen at the entrance to a long drive which leads to the remote property, while forensics officers were observed inside

Yesterday three police vans were seen at the entrance to a long drive which leads to the remote property, while forensics officers were observed inside

Sir Richard Lexington Sutton, 9th Baronet, was head of the Sutton family, which owns land in Dorset, Berkshire, London and Lincolnshire and Aberdeenshire. Pictured: Police had taped of the entrance to the property yesterday

Sir Richard Lexington Sutton, 9th Baronet, was head of the Sutton family, which owns land in Dorset, Berkshire, London and Lincolnshire and Aberdeenshire. Pictured: Police had taped of the entrance to the property yesterday 

The Conservative MP for North Dorset described the incident as ‘deeply awful’ and said he received a ‘full briefing’ on it from police. 

Mr Hoare MP, 51, said: ‘I knew him, strangely enough I knew him before I was an MP as my company did a lot of work for his estate many years ago.

‘He was a charming man, he had a very good sense of humour, he was politically astute and genial.

‘If you wanted to conjure up a picture of a country gentleman then that was him.

‘It is a huge loss for his family in what is clearly deeply awful circumstances.’

Mr Hoare MP also said: ‘This is not the sort of thing you expect to see happening in North Dorset nor the sort of thing we are used to seeing here.

‘Based on what I have been told by the police there is cause for shock and sadness but no cause or reason for alarm.’

The politician added that he is hoping medics are able to help save the injured woman in her 60s as ‘one murder is shocking but a double murder would be chilling’.

Mr Hoare MP said he would not disclose details about the circumstances of the incident nor the identity of the 34 year old man who has been arrested. 

Richard Gallop, a retired air traffic controller in his 70s, who is involved in the local neighbourhood watch, said: ‘Anne is quite chatty while Richard kept himself to himself.’  

Sir Richard inherited his title and estate from his father in 1981 and was worth an estimated £301m in May 2020, placing him 435th on the Sunday Times' Rich List. Pictured: Police at the scene yesterday

Sir Richard inherited his title and estate from his father in 1981 and was worth an estimated £301m in May 2020, placing him 435th on the Sunday Times’ Rich List. Pictured: Police at the scene yesterday 

Officers were yesterday seen searching a wooded area of the estate, near to Gillingham in Dorset

Officers were yesterday seen searching a wooded area of the estate, near to Gillingham in Dorset