London Defender

The Daily Mirror of the Great Britain

Musician, 35, killed in £350,000 bungalow was being targeted by teen drug dealers peddling cocaine

A musician was killed in his suburban bungalow after being targeted by teenage drug dealers peddling cocaine during lockdown, his mother said yesterday.

Last night, police were quizzing a 16-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal attack on Edward Reeve, 35, in a cul-de-sac.  

Later on Friday, the force said a second 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The assault in the Dorset suburb of Christchurch stunned residents after armed police rushed to the bungalow, battering down the garage door to gain entry and hurling smoke grenades into the property before finding the victim’s battered body inside on Tuesday.

Yesterday his distraught mother Jayne Newey said her son’s life had spiralled out of control after he became isolated and got hooked on cocaine during the pandemic.

Dorset Police confirmed the victim was 35-year-old Edward Reeve (pictured). He was found dead with serious injuries inside a bungalow

Dorset Police confirmed the victim was 35-year-old Edward Reeve (pictured). He was found dead with serious injuries inside a bungalow

Dorset Police confirmed the victim was 35-year-old Edward Reeve (pictured). He was found dead with serious injuries inside a bungalow 

Dorset police received a report of concerns for the welfare of a person at 7.53pm on Tuesday and armed officers attended the property (pictured) in Christchurch, Dorset

Dorset police received a report of concerns for the welfare of a person at 7.53pm on Tuesday and armed officers attended the property (pictured) in Christchurch, Dorset

Dorset police received a report of concerns for the welfare of a person at 7.53pm on Tuesday and armed officers attended the property (pictured) in Christchurch, Dorset

The mother-of-two said the dub reggae musician, who worked at Tesco, had bought the £350,000 bungalow after moving to the area from Buckinghamshire.

Miss Newey, 64, a care assistant, said she last saw her son on New Year’s Eve when he asked her for money.

She added: ‘His whole life was in a mess. He told me he’d been getting people banging on his door because of cocaine debts.

According to neighbours, officers battered down the adjoining garage door to gain entry and hurled smoke grenades into the bungalow. Pictured: Forensic team at the scene on Wednesday

According to neighbours, officers battered down the adjoining garage door to gain entry and hurled smoke grenades into the bungalow. Pictured: Forensic team at the scene on Wednesday

According to neighbours, officers battered down the adjoining garage door to gain entry and hurled smoke grenades into the bungalow. Pictured: Forensic team at the scene on Wednesday

‘That began just before Christmas 2020. He was having to pay up and I was having to give him money for it.

‘There were times when he’d come around for £100 a day. I wanted to see him out of it.’

A neighbour said: ‘I heard the helicopter over head for quite some time then armed police arrived. They threw a smoke grenade inside and battered down the garage door.’