Sussex stabbing: Grandson of Don Lock makes plea on Facebook – 'this sick person has taken away the best Grandad anyone could wish for'

Friends and family pay tribute to pensioner stabbed in 'road rage' incident

Don Lock (Facebook)

The grandson of the pensioner stabbed to death in a "frenzied knife attack" has said the attack has "torn my family apart with pain".

Donald Lock, 79, was knifed repeatedly after he got out of his car following the shunt on the A24 at Findon, near Worthing.

Mr Lock died at the scene at around 8.40pm last night despite attempts by paramedics to revive him.

Ashley Goodlad wrote on Facebook: "If anyone knows anything about this please get in touch with me or the police, this sick person has taken away the best Grandad anyone could wish for, I still can't believe this is real. It has torn my family apart with pain."

His family has paid tribute to him in a statement, saying: "He was full of energy, having recently been given the all-clear from cancer."

Armed officers have arrested a 34-year-old suspect, from Worthing, West Sussex, in connection with the alleged road rage murder.

Mr Lock was an avid cyclist and longtime member of the Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club. In a statement, Adrian Palmer, Club Secretary, described Lock as "the backbone of the club for many, many years".

He added: "He was also well respected throughout the cycling fraternity. He was a member for about 50 years and served the club well in many different roles.

"Although he no longer raced he would always support the club in its many ventures and offer support, guidance and encouragement to all."

Laura Muchmore, 21, who works in a garden centre close to the murder scene, said: "It's really shocking for an area like this.

"Nothing ever happens round here. And it's especially shocking that the victim was an old man. Findon is a really lovely little village. It's so picturesque and it's not known for this type of crime."

Another resident, who declined to be named, said: "It's horrendous. It's such a quiet little village and so unusual for something like this to happen."

Police teams were carrying out fingertip searches of the undergrowth down the middle of the carriageway where the incident happened.

Detective Superintendent Adam Hibbert, of the Sussex and Surrey major crime branch, said: "A man is in custody on suspicion of murder.

"I continue to appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision on the A24 at 8.40pm last night, or who may have CCTV or dashboard cameras of the area at that time, to come to assist our investigation

A Sussex Police spokesman has said detectives are "not looking for anyone else at this time" in connection with Mr Lock's death.