Man hacked to death in pub

A FATHER-OF-TWO was hacked to death in a pub beer garden on Sunday after watching a football match.

David Stevenson, 28, was drinking at the New Inn, in Sutton, south London, with his father, son and girlfriend when two men attacked him.

Witnesses said the scaffolder was dragged into a beer garden at the back of the Myrtle Road pub where he was slashed with machetes.

One woman said the victim’s seven-year-old son Luke saw the attack.

Mr Stevenson had been drinking with friends after watching Chelsea play Manchester United in the Community Shield.

Police said three men aged 20, 24 and 56 were being questioned about the killing yesterday. The 24 and 56-year-olds are believed to be a father and son.

The victim’s father, retired firefighter Roger Stevenson, 54, described his son as a “loveable rogue”.

Mr Stevenson told the Sutton Guardian: “He was loved by lots of people. He was a very popular man, he was everybody’s friend. He was always laughing.”

His twin brother Ricky Stevenson, 28, told the paper: “Obviously I will miss him, he’s a part of me. He’s gone and he isn’t going to come back. None of this seems real at the moment.”

A 30-year-old woman, whose boyfriend was a friend of the dead man, said a fight “got out of hand”.

One line of inquiry is that the attack was over a new relationship Mr Stevenson had begun.

Floral tributes were laid close to an alleyway at the rear of the pub, which was cordoned off by police.

A full pint of cider was also left among the tributes.