Advertisement

‘I Love You’: Banker Sent Heartbreaking Final Text To Girlfriend Before He Was Killed By Stranger

A banker sent a final text to his girlfriend to tell her he loved her just two house before a stranger’s punch killed him.

Oliver Dearlove was attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning in Blackheath, south east London, while out with friends.

The 30-year-old, a former employee of the royal bank Coutts, was airlifted to hospital but medics were unable to save his life and he was pronounced dead on Sunday night.

Oliver, who lived with his girlfriend of four years, Claire Wheatley, had sent her a text just two hours before the fatal attack to tell her he loved her.

His heartbroken mother Joy Wright, 56, described him as a “perfect young man.”

image

Attack: Oliver Dearlove was killed by a single punch (SWNS)

Speaking at the family home in Chislehurst, south east London, she said: “He was very popular, he was easy-going, he had a lot of friends.

"He worked hard, he was the perfect son. We can’t believe what’s happened. We’re all in a state of shock.”

She added: “He had so many plans with his girlfriend as well, they were talking about getting a house together and having a baby.

"He and his friends from uni met up in Blackheath, had lunch, dinner, some drinks. At 10pm he texted his girlfriend to say that he loved her.

"I don’t think there was any kind of altercation or fight. Someone picked a fight with him, punched him, and he fell backwards, maybe hit his head, and that was that.

image

Scene of the crime: Police cordoned off the road following the attack (Twitter/@SAwoberu)

"I think he stopped breathing when he hit the floor. His friends tried to give him CPR to save him but nothing could be done.

"I think someone might have said to his friends something like ‘what are you looking at?’ but no real confrontation.”

He worked as a relationship manager for private bank Duncan Lawrie and had previously worked for Coutts, the Queen’s bank, and Barclays.

Colleagues said they were shocked at his death, with Doug Keightley, marketing manager at Duncan Lawrie describing him as a “very, very popular guy.”

Oliver played football for local team Lord Hood FC and comes from a family of three brothers, two step-brothers and a step-sister.

Top pic: SWNS/Twitter/@SAwoberu