Farmer ‘shot dead burglar’ after house was robbed twice in 10 hours
A farmer arrested for shooting dead a suspected burglar in a remote farmhouse has been named locally as Robert Lomas.
Mr Lomas is being questioned on suspicion of murder after Marcus Smith, 19, was found dead at his property on Mosley Hall Farm in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, yesterday morning.
The incident is believed to be the second break-in at his property in less than 10 hours.
Following the news, Smith’s mum Kerry, 51, uploaded a photo of her with her son on social media which prompted an outpouring of sympathy from well-wishers.
One wrote: ‘I’m truly heartbroken. Sending love to you all.’
Another said: “We are so shocked and so heartbroken, nothing can express how deeply sorry we are.”
Mosley Hall Farm – on a remote country lane around half a mile from Eccles Road in Whaley Bridge, Derbs. – is believed to house a dairy cow milking operation.
Officers were called to reports of a break-in at a property on the farm at around 1.20am.
Locals are said to be stunned by what happened, but said the area has a history of crime and the farm was particularly vulnerable because it was so isolated.
Derbyshire Police said they were first called to the property at around 3.30pm on Tuesday (April 30) to reports of a burglary.
They were then called to the same property at 1.20am on Wednesday (May 1) to another report of a burglary.
When officers arrived, they found a teenager with fatal gunshot wounds, a spokesman said.
A second teen was found with a gunshot wound in the same road and rushed to hospital before being later arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary.
A third male suspect, in his 20s, was arrested around two miles away by armed cops who swooped on a car on the A6 in nearby Chapel-en-le-Frith.
According to another local farmer, Mr Lomas had sold his dairy herd a few years ago and ‘was looking forward to his retirement.’
‘He must have been in fear of his life,’ the man told the Mail.
‘Why would he throw it all away to spend what is left of his life in prison? He must have been desperate to shoot someone.
‘Rob was born and bred here. His dad lived there and his granddad lived there – but it was a much bigger farm then that has got smaller over the years.
‘He sold his dairy herd off a while ago. I think he got a good price for them and was looking forward to retirement.’
Dramatic footage circulating on social media appeared to show armed officers pulling over a white BMW car near a set of traffic lights.
A police cordon remains in place at two houses in Eccles Road and police say they will stay there for some time while investigations continue.
Chief Superintendent Dave Kirby, of Derbyshire Police, said: ‘I’d like to thank the local community for all their support during this investigation so far.
‘We appreciate the impact that an incident like this can have on communities so we are grateful to all those who have helped during these early stages.
‘Officers will remain at the scene today and for some time to come as the investigations continue.
‘If anyone does have any information, we’d ask them to please contact us.’
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