The heartbroken family of murdered PC Andrew Harper said yesterday ‘we will never recover’ as they paid tribute to the heroic officer run over when he responded to a burglary.
A handwritten message saying ‘Sleep tight sweetheart’ was attached to a bouquet of chrysanthemums at the police cordon close to where his life ebbed away.
It was claimed yesterday that the newlywed officer, 28, was following a GPS tracker from a stolen quad bike when he was mown down by a getaway vehicle and dragged to his death.
The heartbroken family of murdered PC Andrew Harper said yesterday that they ‘will never recover’ after the heroic officer was run over when he responded to a burglary/ (Pictured: PC Harper with his wife on their wedding day four weeks ago)
A handwritten note left by the roadside where he was mown down near Reading, Berkshire, said: ‘Sleep tight sweetheart. See you one day’
Forensic teams have been pictured searching the area for clues where he was dragged to his death on Thursday
PC Harper suffered devastating injuries when he was hit while responding to a raid at a Victorian country house in the village of Bradfield Southend, near Reading, Berks, on Thursday.
It is thought that the officer was following the tracker when he came across the suspected thieves at a crossroads and left his vehicle to challenge them at around 11.30pm.
His distraught mother Deborah yesterday posted a photograph on Facebook of herself with her son at his wedding, with a thin blue line superimposed across the image in support of police officers.
Wellwishers have donated £100,000 to support his widow Lissie, 28 – who he married just four weeks ago. They were due to go on honeymoon this week.
Along with the floral tribute at the roadside, his family left epaulettes in a plastic tub, along with a wedding photograph of him with his bride.
Floral tributes to the murdered police officer have been left next to the roadside
PC Harper’s heartbroken family have also left epaulettes in a plastic tub and a wedding photo of him with his bride
Locals said the homeowner, who the Mail is not naming, had phoned police after looking out of his window to see the bike being driven away. They said he was ‘bearing up’ although his whereabouts were unknown amid concerns for his safety.
Forensic teams pictured at the roadside where the heroic officer was dragged to death
Their message read: ‘We will never recover – our darling Andrew. You will never feel pain of growing old or a broken heart.
‘I feel your presence comforting me in my darkest hours and minutes and know there’s enough to share with all those who love and need you right now. Sleep tight sweetheart. See you one day.’
It ended: ‘Forever loving Mum, Phil, Sean and Amelia.’
It emerged that the victim of the burglary had installed a GPS tracker on his quad bike as a precaution because his property was being renovated.
Locals said the homeowner, who the Mail is not naming, had phoned police after looking out of his window to see the bike being driven away. They said he was ‘bearing up’ although his whereabouts were unknown amid concerns for his safety.
Handwritten note left at the side of the road read: ‘Forever loving Mum, Phil, Sean and Amelia’
Wellwishers have donated £100,000 to support his widow Lissie, 28 – who he married just four weeks ago. They were due to go on honeymoon this week
Detectives have been granted extra time to question ten men, aged between 13 and 30, who were arrested at the Four Houses Corner caravan park, near Burghfield Common, on suspicion of murder within an hour of PC Harper’s death.
Yesterday police were still searching the travellers site where the arrests were made, three miles from the scene.
A police spokesman said the quad bike had been recovered.
One local said: ‘The guy looked out of the window and saw it disappearing down the road so he called the police, they located it on its tracker.
‘That’s how they met them at the Ufton Lane, I suppose to try and cut them off, but it obviously all went terribly wrong.’
Thames Valley Police refused to elaborate on reports that PC Harper’s body was struck by another police vehicle.
A spokesman said his injuries were caused when he was caught under the ‘suspect vehicle’. The Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed that they were not investigating.
- The Home Secretary came under pressure last night to impose stiffer sentences on thugs who assault police.
Priti Patel pledged the safety of officers would be her ‘first priority’. John Apter, Chair of the Police Federation, said: ‘Officers who have been attacked just for doing their jobs have been let down by the system.’