Wednesday 29 August 2012

Rylett Road stabbing: Burglar disturbed

Ashchurch Terrace this evening
A street cleaner has been stabbed after disturbing a burglary on Rylett Road W12. The condition of the street cleaner is not yet known but an air ambulance is presently landing in Wendell Park in order to give assistance.

Some other roads have been temporarily closed in order to assist with the investigation and getting help to the street cleaner. But no incident has taken place on Ashchurch Terrace itself. 

I have all of this information confirmed by the local Police and will update on details as they come in. In the meantime if any of you witnessed anything get in touch with the Police as soon as you can.

1455 UPDATE - The Police have asked me to advise any witnesses or those with any information about this case to please call 101 quoting "CAD4740". I understand road closures will be in place for the time being whilst a crime scene investigation team does their work. 

1730 UPDATE - the local press are beginning to catch up, having been tipped off by a reader, but they haven't published anything yet:


1820 UPDATE - Have just spoken to Police again. I appreciate some of you may have information to the contrary but as far as they are concerned *at this time* the victim has not died. He was, however, stabbed in the chest and is therefore very seriously hurt. I will keep updating throughout this evening and will know more tomorrow. 

1255 THURSDAY UPDATE - I attended a meeting this morning as a member of the Independent Advisory Group (IAG), a group intended to liaise with the police regularly to help both the police and the communities in our area know what each other are up to, how they feel and what they need. Clearly this is an upsetting incident and I know a number of you have been in touch directly with me to express your shock and some have shared your feelings in the comments here too. 

Coming out of the meeting I was immensely reassured. Both that this incident is without any shadow of a doubt a one-off, and that there is no knock-on risk to anyone living, visiting or working in the area, but also that the police are very well aware of the need to share information with us when they can. 

The facts are essentially that a street cleaner saw a burglary taking place and tackled an individual, who then responded with extreme violence, resulting in the cleaner suffering stab wounds. He is very seriously ill indeed at St Mary's Hospital. To say he was brave in tackling the burglar would be an understatement.

The police have multiple lines of inquiry which they are looking into and would ask any of you who have any information that havent already shared it to do so. Call 101. The suspect they are seeking, who ran from the scene towards Goldhawk Road, is described as white, approximately 6'00" tall and wearing a pale shirt and blue jeans.

We know Askew Road has had violent incidents before related to drugs. This isn't one of them. The area as far as I can see, and I am there daily, is on the up. And we owe that not only to the police who are prepared to put themselves in harms way to keep it that way but also to the untold heroes who keep the streets clean and everything working. This incident underlines just how heroic they can be.

When I have more I will share it with you. In the meantime please try to treat speculation you may hear from the press or elsewhere with some skepticism unless it is a direct quote from the police. Anything else is guesswork on their part and unhelpful to both the police and the victims' family. 

Residents need to check in and out of the road
1700 UPDATE THURSDAY Cllr Greg Smith, H&F Council Deputy Leader, has said this:
"One of the borough's street cleaners is fighting for his life after he was stabbed in the chest by a suspected burglar, who he spotted, on Rylett Road yesterday. An air ambulance landed in nearby Wendell Park and our street cleaner was taken to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, where he remains in critical condition. 
"Although this is an isolated incident, it is deeply shocking that this genuine act of bravery should end in such brutal violence and everyone at the council is thinking of our brave colleague at this difficult time. We understand that the Police investigation is ongoing and we are hopeful that an arrest will be made soon."
A number of you have asked about sending flowers or support to the victim via Serco - I will be in touch with them and get back to you about this.

1930 UPDATE THURSDAY - I am so very very sorry to have to report that the victim has died. His name was Piotr Mikewicz  and  he passed away this afternoon in hospital from a stab wound which pierced his heart. I will have another update very shortly here on developments.

2005 UPDATE THURSDAY - Cllr Greg Smith, Hammersmith & Fulham Council Deputy Leader, has just released this statement:
"Everyone at the council is deeply saddened by the tragic news that Piotr Mikewicz, who was one of the borough's dedicated street cleaners, has died after being stabbed by some scum of the earth who obviously has no regard for human life. Piotr was a hard-working man, who was a friendly face to all who knew him on his regular beat.

"Piotr was a family man who courageously tried to intervene when he spotted a crime in progress and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this extremely difficult time.


“Although this is an isolated incident, it is deeply shocking that Piotr's genuine act of bravery should end in such brutal violence and we trust that the perpetrators of this evil will be brought to justice swiftly."
Arrests have been made - all details here. As one of you just commented, rest in peace Piotr.

27 comments:

  1. My mother-in-law: Cheryl, is local and tells me she is being told it is their local caretaker and he has died. We really nope not. He is much respected

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    1. Does anyone know his name?

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    2. the police do and will release it at some point soon

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  2. OMG the guy is dead, i was there, omg omg, am shaking right nw!!

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    1. Unless you are certain otherwise, I would be very very surprised if he was dead, as it would have been on the local news by now - especially due to the circumstances...I am still hoping this is the case.

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    2. I hope he is not dead Mark, i pray he is not,maybe i quoted u wrong coz i thot thats what u had said, and it seemed like the ambulance took forever..

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    3. He did die but was resuscitated is now critical was street cleaner

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  3. Hi - if you were there and witnessed anything please contact the police using 101. I hope you are OK.

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  4. I have been gave statements but the police were not telling usanything, i pray he is ok,all i see is the scene and his face omg, i held him Chris i held him.

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  5. Did they take him to St Marys Paddington?

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  6. He isnt a caretaker he is a roadsweeper. He is in a very serious condition in Hosptial.

    so no he isnt dead but again he is very very sick.

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  7. I hope they ketch the bastard who did this...he is in my prayers..

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  8. sickening to think of someone doing this to an innocent man, disgusting. really hope they catch whoever done this. hope the burglar rots.

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  9. Terrible news! I hope the caretaker survives. Are our streets getting worst or is it just me?

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  10. I think he was just very unlucky. I dont feel violent crime is getting any worse. I am praying he is able to pull through for his loved ones and for those that had to deal with this incident.

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  11. I live very close to this street and to think this is what can happen at this time makes me quite frightened. It truly is disturbing that one person could do that to an innocent man. Poor man, my thoughts are with him and his family.

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  12. It is shocking that an incident like this can happen. Rylett Rd was always so quiet, especially after it was made a dead-end some years ago. Still, this lovely part of W12 has changed drastically over the years, and sadly knife crime is rife - there was a chap murdered on Askew Rd last year in a knifing incident, so it's not unprecedented, and burglary in this relatively affluent part of the Bush has been a growing menace for some time. Still so shocking and I really hope that the injuries suffered by the poor chap are not life threatening.

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  13. I think I said hello to the poor victim earlier that morning... He's always so friendly... This is truly awful. I'm not of a praying disposition but I'm saying one for him. Where do we send flowers with a get well from the community message??

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  14. That was me about the flowers... stuff that! What the poor bloke probably needs is money... he'll be out of work for ages. How can we set up some sort of trust that only he can access, but that the community can donate to?

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    1. I agree. Hopefully he will pull through, but will be out of work for ages. Is there a fund local residents can donate to?

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  15. I am also a local resident and agree with Ruthie. I would like to know where we can show some support - perhaps through the street cleaning company? Thank you.

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  16. Living so close to Rylett Road I would often walk down this street as it is so pretty, and quiet.I hope that it never loses it's appeal afte this shocking incident yesterday. I know alot of the road sweepers who work in thiis area, and I just hope that it isn't they guy who I will chat to often whenever I see him. Who ever he is, he is someone's son, brother, uncle,or husband and I pray that he will pull through so that he can get on with his life before this disgusting crime.

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  17. How very very very sad he has passed from this world. His poor family! :( I suspect he came here as a hardworking young man to make a better life for his family (a brave choice to make in itself if you think about it) Brave of him to protect the property of someone clearly much more fortunate. I am disgusted, but not surprised that a nasty party Councillor calls the perpetrator the 'scum of the earth'! The murderer will most certainly be deranged by drug abuse or such like and needs to be caught and dealt with soon. Rest your soul Piotr Mikewicz x

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  18. tragic news and hope there is some way we can help his family. RIP Piotr.

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  19. Firstly prayers to Piotr and his family. Secondly what a disgusting article by the Standard with the Have a Go Hero headline. What his parents will think when they see it, I cannot imagine. Very disrespectful to a heroic gentleman.

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  20. This is too much, awful, words can't convey my shock. How do some in our society come to view life as so cheap? And, this time at least, I completely agree with Cllr Greg Smith.

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