A MAN held for the murder of a 12-year-old boy after a hit-and-run at a school was found asleep in a car – as cops probe a crash at ANOTHER school.
Harley Watson, 12, was killed and five other students were injured in a crash as they left Debden Park High School in Loughton, Essex, at 3.20pm yesterday.
Among the injured were four boys aged 12, 13 and two aged 15, along with a 16-year-old girl and 23-year-old woman.
A 51-year-old man, from Loughton, was arrested on suspicion of murder and six counts of attempted murder at 11pm yesterday after he was found asleep in a pub car park five miles away.
A similar-looking car reportedly mounted the pavement near Roding Valley High School, just two miles from Debden Park High School, about 10 minutes before the fatal hit-and-run.
Police believe the two incidents may be linked.
Staff at the Merry Fiddler, in the village of Fiddler’s Hamlet five miles away, say they called the police after seeing the suspect apparently asleep in the pub car park.
Roy James, 68, whose son is the pub’s landlord, said: “My son rang the police. He saw this car while we were locking up.
“All the windows were steamed up and it looked like the bloke was asleep but we didn’t know how long it had been there for.”
Mr James said his son matched the registration number and car to the one circulating on social media, before calling the cops at around 10pm.
Did you see what happened? Do you know the victims? Email us on brittany.vonow@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502
“We have no idea how long he was there for,” he said.
“The hit-and-run happened ten minutes up the road. He could have sped straight from there.
“For the man to pull up somewhere and sleep in the car, it’s shocking. Where’s his head? To do something like this just before Christmas is horrible.”
Tributes have since been paid to young Harley, who was remembered as a “caring” young boy.
One message read: “Today my little mate Harley sadly was involved in a devastated accident which has killed him.
“I know Harley did not deserve any of this because he was a caring boy and would never hurt anyone so everyone please make all your family members that drive a car, to please be careful on the roads.”
He added: “Our hearts are praying with Harley’s family.”
Michelle Burrell said she had witnessed the horrific crash with her daughter, whose birthday it is today.
She told The Sun Online: “Me and my six-year-old walked in to it all.
“She’s seen things no six-year-old should see.”
One father, whose daughter was hit by the car, told Essex Live: “A Ford KA mounted the pavement behind her. Her friend was bounced onto the bonnet before another boy was hit very bad.
“The car drove off down the road and the police arrived quickly. My daughter is safe, but the wing mirror clipped my daughter. Her friend got thrown off the bonnet.
“It was awful to witness. Everyone is in shock.”
Head teacher Helen Gascoyne said the school had been “devastated” by the death of one of its students and that pupils will be offered counselling on Tuesday.
A mum, whose daughter sat next to Harley, said: “My daughter is distraught. She doesn’t know what to do with herself.
“She was with him during the day. She said literally hours before they had been together.
“He was a lovely funny boy.
“Our children are not safe. It could’ve been my daughter.”
Me and my six-year-old walked in to it all. She’s seen things no six-year-old should see
Michelle Burrell
Christian Kavanagh, Executive Head, said: “We offer our heartfelt condolences to the young man.
“A young life so tragically lost. He made a mark on the school and was liked and loved by students.”
Essex Police are trying to establish the route that the vehicle took from Debden Park School, in Willingale Road, to the Merry Fiddler in Fiddlers Hamlet.
Chief Supt Tracey Harman said the force is examining a number of inquiries, “including where there has been previous contact between Essex Police and the man we have arrested”.
DCI Rob Kirby, senior investigating officer, said the incident at Roding Valley High School may be linked to the fatal collision at Debden Park High School.
He said: “Our investigations have led us to establish that there may be connections between that incident and the one which has led us to establish a murder investigation.”
Sharon Jenner, headteacher of Roding Valley High School, said: “I can confirm that we have been made aware from several of our students that a car, similar in description was seen in Brook Road, Loughton, at about 3:10pm.
“We have reported this sighting to the police to support the ongoing investigation.”
The arrest came after police earlier said they were searching for Terry Glover, 51, over the crash.
Officers had begun a manhunt as they tried to trace a silver Ford Ka which is believed to have been damaged in the crash.
Essex Police said all the teens injured were pupils at Debden Park High School.
Chief Supt Harman said: “The events of yesterday in Willingale Road have seen trauma and distress brought to the community in Loughton after a 12-year-old boy was killed and a number of people injured following a collision with a car.
“I have seen first-hand the impact this incident has had locally and we continue to progress this live investigation which has seen a 51-year-old man arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including murder.”
A police cordon remains in place along Willingale Road today, manned by officers.
The cordon began metres from the entrance to the school, near the junction of Jessel Drive, and an officer was going door to door in the streets nearby.
Armed police could be seen outside a home in Loughton, where neighbours said Glover lived alone.
Debden Park is a mixed academy school for pupils aged 11 to 18, which specialises in the performing arts and received a rating of “outstanding” in its most recent Ofsted inspection, according to its prospectus.
Anyone with dashcam, CCTV or information should contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
