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ONE-PUNCH KILLER

Oliver Dearlove’s killer ‘knocked woman unconscious after threatening to ‘bang her out’ six years before killing Coutts banker with single punch’

A JOBLESS plasterer who killed a banker with a single punch once knocked a woman unconscious after telling her: "I'm going to bang you out,"a court heard today.

Trevor Timon, 31, admitted battery over the attack on May 16, 2010 after his victim said Timon repeatedly told her he was going to knock her out before she woke up on the ground.

 Trevor Timon admits manslaughter after killing Oliver Dearlove with a single punch - but denies murder
Trevor Timon admits manslaughter after killing Oliver Dearlove with a single punch - but denies murder

He is accused of murdering Oliver Dearlove, 30, by hitting him as hard as he could outside a wine bar in Blackheath, southeast London after threatening knock him out.

Today his violent past was laid bare in court as jurors were told Timon has previously pleaded guilty to a string of crimes.

He was previously convicted for trying to punch a barman who turned him away after closing time, shouting at a bus driver while brandishing a golf club and screaming "as soon as the police leave I'm going to start f***cking fighting" as he was restrained by his uncle.

Timon admits manslaughter by throwing the fatal punch but denies murdering Mr Dearlove in an "unprovoked and senseless" attack, claiming he did not mean to cause "really serious harm".

The victim, who worked for a boutique bank in London's Victoria, was pronounced dead less than 24 hours after he was attacked at around 12.30am on August 28 last year following a lads' night out.

Giving evidence Timon, who is mixed race, told the Old Bailey he was "p****d off" with Mr Dearlove and his two friends because one of them racially abused him by calling him a "half chap".

He admitted threatening to knock Mr Dearlove out, but insisted it was simply a "figure of speech".

Asked by Judge Mark Dennis QC what he thought would happen if he punched his victim to the head, Timon replied: "I didn't think, I just threw the punch...I was in shock when he fell to the floor."

 Oliver Dearlove with his girlfriend Claire before he was tragically killed on a uni reunion night out
Oliver Dearlove with his girlfriend Claire before he was tragically killed on a uni reunion night outCredit: PA:Press Association
 Photo of Dearlove left next to flowers in tribute to the 30-year-old after his death
Photo of Dearlove left next to flowers in tribute to the 30-year-old after his deathCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

The judge instructed jurors: 'The key issue in this case is the intention the defendant has in his mind when he, as he admits, delivered that punch."

Jurors were told that on 11 February 2008, when the defendant was aged 22, he angrily shouted at a bus driver while brandishing a golf club, and was convicted for using threatening, abusive or insulting words and behaviour.

Timon pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour over a second incident on January 1, 2010.

In a list of "agreed facts", jurors heard: "Police witnessed the defendant's uncle restraining the defendant on the ground. He was shouting and screaming, including that as soon as police left he would start f***ing fighting,' the agreed facts continued.

"On 26 May 2010, when the defendant was aged 25, he approached a female and was verbally abusive."

The court heard she had been speaking to a friend of his called Jay and the woman told Timon he was also her friend.

 Timon claims he was 'p****d off' at Dearlove for an alleged racist slur
Timon claims he was 'p****d off' at Dearlove for an alleged racist slur

"The defendant said, 'no he's not, I'm going to bang you out'. He kept saying he was going to knock her out, then punched her to the right side of her face.

"She says she was knocked unconscious and she woke up on the ground."

The court heard Timon pleaded guilty to battery over the attack on June 21, 2010.

His most recent conviction, for common assault, relates to an incident on June 11, 2011, and jurors were told: "The defendant, then aged 26, was ushered out of a public house by staff after closing time.

"Being refused re-entry, he threw a punch at a male member of bar staff, missing him."

I didn't think, I just threw the punch...I was in shock when he fell to the floor.

Trevor Timondefendant

Timon, who left school with three GCSEs, aged 16, worked as a plasterer, but claimed he could no longer work when he was diagnosed with epilepsy following a seizure.

Mr Dearlove lived with his long term girlfriend, Claire Wheatley, in New Eltham and worked as a Relationship Manager for Duncan Lawrie Private Bank in London's Victoria.

He had been on a reunion night out with pals from Portsmouth University on Saturday August 27 last year, which involved drinking in pubs, watching the football and a curry.

Timon, of Heavitree Road, Plumstead, southeast London, admits manslaughter but denies murder.

The trial continues.


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