Swindon residents told to carry alarms after knife maniac kills cyclist
POLICE were last night hunting a savage knifeman who stabbed a cyclist to death in a frenzied, unprovoked attack.
Aulton Thomas Rogers, 60. was repeatedly knifed all over his body as he cycled home from work.
Now detectives are telling people in the area to carry personal attack alarms.
Police believe that Mr Rogers, known as Tom, was ambushed by a stranger in the late-night horror.
Detective Chief Inspector Sean Memory, who is leading the hunt for the killer, said the scene was “horrendous” and the victim stood “no chance”.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that he died from multiple stab wounds.
DCI Memory said: “Mr Rogers was not known to police and there is no apparent motive for the attack.
“We would ask anyone who knew Mr Rogers to contact us.
“This will help us to build a picture of his lifestyle.”
Mr Rogers’s body was found by a passer-by who stumbled on the murder scene shortly before midnight on Thursday.
His bicycle was found nearby.
Mr Rogers left work at the Woodlands Edge pub in Swindon, Wiltshire, at around 10.30pm.
Wiltshire Police have drafted in extra officers to patrol the town’s streets and locals are being advised to carry a personal attack alarm
He was heading home to nearby Walcot, where he lived alone.
His body was found on a cycle path near an underpass 100 yards from the town’s railway station.
Locals have started calling the underpass “muggers’ alley” because of the number of recent violent offences. Last month a 24-year-old woman suffered serious injuries after she was approached from behind by an unknown man who hit her on the back of the head.
A section of the cycle path remained closed yesterday as forensic officers wearing white boiler suits continued to carry out a fingertip search of the area.
Police believe the killer walked his victim along the path and may have been injured due to the ferocity with which he then carried out the attack.
CCTV footage was being reviewed by specialist officers.
Wiltshire Police have drafted in extra officers to patrol the town’s streets and locals are being advised to carry a personal attack alarm.
Police chiefs warned the public to be vigilant.
Superintendent Andrew Carr said: “Make sure people know where you are going and what time you are due back home.
“Make sure you have a mobile phone and that it has credit on it, and carry a personal alarm if you can.”
Anyone concerned for their safety should call 999 immediately, he added.
