Moped youth found guilty of killing celebrity minder in machete attack

A machete-wielding teenager on a moped has been found guilty of killing a former celebrity minder.

Tommy Roome was found not guilty of murdering Ricky Hayden by a jury at the Old Bailey, but convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter over the fatal stabbing.

A second defendant, Tarrell Hinds, was found not guilty of any involvement in the killing, in Romford, east London, on September 13 2016.

It took the jurors 13 hours and 30 minutes to reach its verdicts at the end of the six-week trial, which also found the pair – both 19 at the time of the incident – innocent of attempted murder of the victim’s father, Paul, and an alternative change of wounding with intent against the older man.

Two members of the public fled the court in distress following the verdicts.

The court had heard that victim Mr Hayden, 27, had worked in security at ITV and acted as a bodyguard for high-profile celebrities including footballer Peter Crouch and model Abbey Clancy.

He ran out of his house wearing only a pair of boxer shorts on the night of the incident, believing the youths were about to snatch his brother’s scooter.

Prosecutors said Mr Hayden, his 21-year-old brother Perry and their father, 55, were confronted by Roome and Mr Hinds who were armed with two large machetes.

Jurors were told that the defendants had gone to Gibbfield Close that day to look for two other brothers – Carter and Latham Jordan – with whom Roome was involved in an ongoing dispute.

Roome, of Chadwell Heath, east London, and Mr Hinds, of Chigwell, east London, were on a moped at the time, the court heard.

A third defendant, Kevin Malamba, 20, of Southwark, south London, has previously admitted perverting the course of justice. He and Roome will be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Constable Paul Garvey, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “Ricky was attacked and stabbed right outside his house after confronting Roome, who was trying to steal his brother’s moped and was intent on causing trouble.

“Extreme violence was used against Ricky and his father Paul with devastating consequences.

“Ricky’s family have had to endure unimaginable pain and grief following Ricky’s death.

“They have been fully supportive of our investigation from day one, and acted with the utmost dignity and courage throughout the inquiry and trial.”