- A man in his 60s was found dead at house on quiet country lane
- Police want to question Ian John McLoughlin, 55
- Francis Cory-Wright, a convicted paedophile, was injured and is in hospital
- It is believed McLoughlin was in prison with Cory-Wright
- Police described McLoughlin as ‘very dangerous’
A pensioner was murdered trying to defend an 88-year-old convicted paedophile from a man it is believed he met in prison, it was claimed today.The victim is believed to have been stabbed to death after he heard a commotion at his neighbour’s house in leafy Little Gaddesden near Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, on Saturday afternoon.
His neighbour, Francis Cory-Wright, 88, recently came out of prison after he was jailed for 30 months for indecently assaulting a 10-year-old boy 35 years ago.
Convicted paedophile Francis Cory-Wright is in hospital after an attack in which a neighbour who tried to protect him was stabbed to death
Cory-Wright was also wounded and taken to hospital, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Detectives want to question ‘extremely dangerous’ Ian John McLoughlin, 55, also known as Ian John Baker, in connection with the incident and have warned people not to approach him.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, claimed McLoughlin was in prison with Cory-Wright and sought him out upon his release.
They said: ‘I have been told that the attacker was a man who was serving time with Mr Cory-Wright at the same jail.
Ian John McLoughlin, who police would like to speak to in connection with a murder investigation which has been launched after a man in his 70s died following a ‘serious incident’
‘It seems he was unhappy with him and, when he was released, turned up on his doorstep yesterday.
‘Apparently the next-door neighbour heard the commotion and went to help the frail old man and has paid for his good deed with his life.
‘He was stabbed and left to die.’
Cory-Wright was found guilty of abusing a boy during fishing and hunting trips in the 1970s.
Cory-Wright, who was an underwriter with Lloyds at the time, would pick up the boy, who is now 44, in a vintage car and take him out into the country before abusing him. The victim kept the abuse secret for decades for fear of his father’s reaction.
Police have described McLoughlin as white, about 6ft tall, with straight, greying, collar-length hair.
DCI Martin Brunning from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, who is now leading the investigation said: ‘The investigation is still in its early stages however we are continuing to treat the death as murder.
‘These are initial stages of the investigation however we urgently want to speak to Ian McLoughlin in connection with this offence. He is described as being a white male, around 6ft tall with greying hair.
‘That day he was believed to be wearing sunglasses, blue jeans or possibly three quarter length trousers and a dark, blue, light blue and white checked short sleeved shirt with a button down collar. He is of average build.
‘We also believe that he is in possession of a large amount of £50 and £20 notes which he may be using to pay for purchases. It is a substantial amount which he could be trying to conceal.
‘The nature of this murder investigation is one of significant violence and until he is caught the public are asked not to approach him as he is a very dangerous man.
The house in Little Gaddesden where the murdered man lived. He was stabbed to death while trying to save his next door neighbour
Police guard the home of Old Etonian Francis Cory-Wright, an 88-year-old convicted paedophile
Forensic officers at the scene in Nettleden Road. Francis Cory-Wright is in hospital, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening
A helicopter using heat-seeking technology was sent up to hunt for McLoughlin but no trace could be found of him.Officers wearing forensic suits searched the quaint £1million pounds red-bricked and black beamed detached house belonging to tragic neighbour Mr Skinner.
A wooden chair was within the police cordon outside the gate of his house and was believed to form part of the investigation.
Forensic teams also searched Mr Cory-Wright’s £750,000 pounds detached home. The light-coloured brick building had three upstairs windows, which were bricked up, possibly as a result of an ancient Window Tax.
Detective Chief Inspector Jerome Kent said: ‘Whilst the investigation is still in its early stages, we are treating the death as murder’
Police outside the property, close to the village green of Little Gaddesden
It is believed the victim was investigating a disturbance next door
A policeman guarded its wooden-gated entrance and officers were spotted searching a shed in the back garden.Neighbours told of their shock at the fatal stabbing in the house bordering the quiet English countryside green.
A middle-aged neighbour, a man who asked not to be named, said: ‘The death has shocked the community.
‘We feel desperately sorry for the innocent man who came to the aid of his neighbour two doors up. He must have heard a commotion and intervened in the fight.
‘The word is that he was stabbed. I’m not sure if police have found the weapon.
‘We heard that Cory-Wright, who lives in the house, was a convicted paedophile and was inside with the man now on the run.
‘Cory-Wright is in hospital but I don’t think he’s too badly injured.’
Anyone with information has been urged to contact police or Crimestoppers. Officers have been conducting additional patrols in the area to provide reassurance to residents and continue to search the village.
Police refused to discuss the background to the attack, including details of Mr Cory-Wright’s paedophile conviction. They also refused to disclose how they knew that McLoughlin was in possession of a large number of £50 pounds and £20 notes.
Nettleden Road near Little Gaddeston n Hertfordshire. The area is quiet, rural and affluent
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