Parish councillor shot by gunman who fled on motorbike and died in police chase

A parish councillor was shot at his home in a quiet Hampshire hamlet before the gunman fled on his motorbike and died in the ensuing police chase.

Children’s author James Nash, 42, suffered serious head injuries and is fighting for his life in hospital as police combed the village and searched an address half a mile from the scene of the attack.

A 40-year-old woman who received minor injuries during the attack on MacCallum Road in Upper Enham has not been named.

Mr Nash lives with his wife, Dr Sarah Nash, a leading space scientist.

The gunman, a 34-year-old man who is believed to have left the scene on foot before jumping onto a motorcycle, crashed the bike on the A343 three miles away during a police chase.

It is understood he was known to Mr Nash, though their relationship is unclear.

Police said the rider died at the scene of the crash near the village of Hurstbourne Tarrant and the case has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Mr Nash was rushed to Southampton General Hospital after the attack at around 3pm Wednesday afternoon.

The self-employed artist, who is a councillor for Enham Alamein Parish Council, and his wife live in a detached two bedroom cottage in Upper Enham, where the average house price is £813,149.

Set in three acres, where the couple keep chickens, Mr Nash’s social media pages showed an idyllic rural life. He is said to be an active councillor who has been heavily involved with the local community.

Enham Alamein Parish Council refused to comment.  One resident said: “He writes children's books and he is an artist. He is a lovely guy. He would literally do anything for anyone. He helps out with lots of things.

"A few years ago we had a Fair and he was asked because he had a tractor to come and help out. He is a really nice person whenever I have spoken to him.

"He renovated his whole house recently and it looks very modern." Mr Nash describes himself on his blog as 'a naturalist, first and foremost devoted to the conservation of our wild world'.

The site says he is resident artist at The Hawk Conservancy Trust based in Andover, Hants.

On his LinkedIn, he describes himself as 'someone that can be trusted to deliver to my commitments, and believe that those include individuals and teams as well as the projects themselves'.

He adds: "My current role as director of my own company uses art and engineering to enthuse, inspire and motivate others to create and innovate.

"Working with schools and charities I have been privileged to engage with both young and old, able bodied and those who struggle with severe conditions such as cerebral palsy and depression.

"I am a well known artist and children's author in my own right which has really captivated the imagination of so many people."

Dr Nash works at the Science and Technology Facilities Council in Didcot in Oxford.

The research laboratory is a government agency that carries out research in science and engineering.

Its areas of specialism include particle physics, nuclear physics, space science and astronomy The Nashs' house is located on a quiet country lane next to the Enham Trust, a charity which provides support and care for the vulnerable and disabled.

A spokeswoman for the trust said : "We are saddened by the events that took place yesterday afternoon, and our thoughts are with the individual affected.

"This is of course a worrying time for the community and we are supporting residents within the village, but can confirm that nobody supported by the Trust or staff were involved."

Chief Inspector Kory Thorne, Test Valley district commander, said: “We know residents in the Upper Enham and Hurstbourne Tarrant areas will have been concerned by what happened yesterday.

“They are likely to see a continued police presence in these areas while we investigate the circumstances.”

Phil North, leader of Test Valley Borough Council, sought to reassure residents of the area, telling them officers are "confident" the deceased rider is the attacker.