Man arrested over diesel raid death

Updated 15.54 Tue Jun 24 2008
Keywords: County Durham, police, Bishop Middleham, thieves, diesel

A 21-year-old man has been arrested by detectives investigating the death of a farmer's wife who collapsed after a diesel raid at her home.

The man was held on suspicion of assault, theft, and theft of a motor vehicle by officers investigating the death of Rosemary Dove, 68.

"Early this afternoon a 21-year-old local man was arrested by police after a car was stopped on the outskirts of Coundon" - Police spokesman

Durham Police said he was arrested after a car was stopped on the outskirts of Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

A police spokesman said: "Early this afternoon a 21-year-old local man was arrested by police after a car was stopped on the outskirts of Coundon.

"The suspect, a passenger in the car, was arrested on suspicion of assault, theft, and theft of a motor vehicle. The man is currently being held at Bishop Auckland police station for questioning."

Mrs Dove collapsed after running inside the family home when she and husband Frank, 67, returned home from an agricultural show in Scotland to find thieves stealing fuel.

Her son Michael suffered a broken hip and head injuries when he tried to confront the intruders at their farm in Bishop Middleham, County Durham.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Harker said he believed a pick-up truck was driven to the Howlish Plantation, a few hundred yards from the village of Coundon and torched.

"It is possible the person or people responsible first learned of the tragic consequences of their actions from the media broadcasts and decided to try and cover their tracks by destroying potential evidence," said Det Ch Insp Harker.

"The discovery of the Mitsubishi, along with other intelligence and information collated by our investigating team, has provided us with a number of very positive lines of inquiry.

"We are confident they will ultimately lead us to the person or people responsible.

"We would, however, still be very interested in talking to anyone, particularly from the Coundon area, who can throw any light on this vehicle's whereabouts over the last few days or details of anyone associated with it."

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