London banker Oliver Dearlove, 30, killed by 'one punch' on night out with friends

The Metropolitan Police force are appealing for information after a 30-year-old banker was apparently killed by a single punch whilst on a night out in south London. Oliver Dearlove, from Eltham, south east London, was in Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, when the incident took place at around 00.45am BST on Sunday (28 August).

He died in hospital less than 24 hours later. He was due to fly to Las Vegas this week for a collective 30th birthday celebration. Mr Dearlove, who worked for private bank Duncan Lawrie and had previously worked for the Queen's banker, Coutts, was enjoying a night out in the area with friends from university.

Mr Dearlove's mother Joy Wright said it appeared someone picked a fight with her son, who had been trying for a baby with his long-term girlfriend Claire Wheatley.

"He and his friends all met up, had lunch, dinner, drinks," Mrs Wright told The Guardian. "He texted his girlfriend that he loved her around 10pm. Someone picked a fight, punched him and [he] fell backwards and that was it. I don't think there was an altercation. I think someone said to him and his friends 'what are you looking at' and that was it. I think he stopped breathing when he hit the floor. His friends gave him CPR."

DCI Lee Watling of the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command said: "We are retaining an open mind at this stage of the investigation with regards to a motive and our primary aim is to establish how Mr Dearlove came to receive the injuries which led to his death.

"We are appealing for anyone who was at Tranquil Vale who witnessed the incident in particular a group of up to four white females who Mr Dearlove and his friends were speaking to around the time the offence occurred."

Anyone with any information that may assist police is being asked to call the incident room on 0208 721 4205. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.