Tributes paid to British man killed in Kenya

Tributes have been paid to a "wonderful" British man whose body was discovered following an attack at his home in Kenya.

Local officials in Mombasa said John Middleton, who had previously lived in Norfolk, was found in the bath of his property with stab wounds.

The 75-year-old former football referee was due to take part in a round of golf on Saturday morning but did not turn up, his club captain, Dinesh Sasan said.

Mr Middleton had also reported someone had tried to poison his dogs in the days leading up to his death, Mr Sasan told the BBC.

Local media reported he had been attacked with a machete and that it had been left behind at the scene.

Jamleck Mbuba, deputy county commissioner for the Kisauni constituency, said there appeared to have been "a slight struggle".

But he told NTV Kenya: "The scene was not very disturbed."

Mr Middleton's housekeeper reportedly raised the alarm after he did not answer his doorbell on Saturday morning.

Mr Middleton, described by friends in Kenya as "a wonderful guy", was an avid golfer and played at the nearby Nyali Golf and Country Club.

Mr Sasan, who had known Mr Middleton since 2015, said: "I used to be with him three or four times a week. We were all sitting together on Friday evening.

"He was very polite, he would stick to his principles and was very helpful. I am totally shocked. It is beyond belief."

He said the British High Commission was now involved and that a post-mortem was due to be carried out.

Mr Sasan described how Mr Middleton's house, in the Utange district, was not in a location where many expatriates lived.

"Unfortunately the area he was in was not a very secure one" he continued.

It was reported that nothing had been stolen from the property.

Mr Middleton's ex-wife, Regina, had also been killed during a break-in in 2018 at her home some 20km (12 miles) north of Utange, Mr Sasan confirmed.

Prior to moving to Kenya, Mr Middleton had been an amateur football referee in his spare time.

The Norfolk FA said it was "saddened" to hear of his death.

Its statement said: "John officiated for many years in the county and was a committed and well-liked match official.

"The thoughts of all at Norfolk FA are with John’s family and friends at this sad time."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was "supporting the family of a British man who has died in Kenya and are in contact with the local authorities".

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