Harefield residents in shock after man charged with murder

Police charged 35-year-old Tom Alexander Ellison with murder and theft after finding the body of Ian Wayne Jupe in Mountain Ash Close, Harefield, on May 28.

Hampshire Police said that further enquiries into the circumstances of Mr Jupe's death led them to believe the 58-year-old had been killed.

Tom Alexander Ellison, 35, of Mountain Ash Close, Southampton has now been charged with murder and theft.

Residents of Harefield have been left in a state of shock after the news was broken to them with one stating it was "awful that a man had died".

Those living in the area said that the incident occurred at the cul-de-sac at the end of Mountain Ash Close, called Heather Court.

The flats in Heather Court (Image: Google Maps)A resident of Heather Court for three years said: “There was so much police activity for days. The detective that was here even used my toilet.

“I feel awful that a man has died. I just feel so sorry for him – nobody deserves that no matter the circumstances.

“You see it on the telly but when it happens on your doorstep its frightening.

“People do look after each other around here – I know my neighbours well so it's shocking this has happened.”

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A man who has lived on Mountain Ash Close for more than 40 years, but wanted to remain unnamed, added: “I didn’t know the victim but it's very sad. It's scary that it is happening."

Another resident said: “Most the time I don’t even lock my door – I will make sure I lock it now. There is nothing you can do about it but it's terrible that this goes on near your home.

“Police were continuously up and down the road from Tuesday until yesterday [Sunday] and even knocked my door to ask if I had seen anything or had any CCTV footage.”