Driver killed in lorry hijack

Detectives today spoke of their horror as more details emerged of the "callous" murder of a delivery driver run over by robbers in his own vehicle.

It emerged that Ian Jones had been threatened before by knife-wielding thugs - and had let them take the lorry.

In the latest robbery Mr Jones, 44, was delivering goods to a Currys store in Chingford when the gang struck.

He was run down outside the delivery area of the electrical store after he caught the gang stealing washing machines, dishwashers, televisions and DVD players from the back of his truck on Thursday.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Gibson, who is leading the hunt for the killers, said: "This is a particularly callous crime.

"They must have known they had run him over yet they continued to exchange goods from one vehicle to another just a few streets away. It is unbelievable and unforgivable."

Mr Jones's sister Sandra Rivers said: "He loved his job as a delivery man, but he would not have risked his life for it as there was no need.

"He had been held up before at knifepoint and had let the thieves take the truck.

"He knew the form and if the thieves had just said 'get out the way', he would have done it."

Mr Gibson said: "This was an innocent man going about his daily business. To be subjected to the theft of goods is one thing. But this has turned into a horrific and callous murder that has left me appalled.

"I hope it also appals members of the criminal fraternity who may have information about the identity of these people. Someone out there knows who these people are." Mrs Rivers, 49, said her brother, a single man, had been devoted to his family and was a highly respected member of the village community at his home in Hawkhurst, Kent.

She said: "He has left behind six brothers and sisters who cannot come to terms with his loss. This was such a terrible, terrible waste as he was a fantastic man who was known by the whole village.

"He was always full of fun and laughter, but also wanted to do some good in his life. He had been a volunteer firefighter in Kent for 21 years.

"He had also looked after our mother until she passed away and was a great uncle to his 12 nephews and nieces.

"They thought the world of him where he worked and they have started a book of condolence."

Mr Jones, who lived alone in the home he had shared with his parents until they died, was taken to North Middlesex Hospital after being hit by the lorry but died half an hour later.

The robbers left Mr Jones for dead and sped off in the Dixons lorry with a load containing tens of thousands of pounds worth of goods.

When they found their way partly blocked by a dustcart in a nearby residential street, they mounted the pavement - narrowly missing pedestrians - and switched their haul to a white Ford Transit box van.

The van, which had been stolen from Alpine Way, Beckton, on 28 July, was found burned out in Epping Forest on Friday.

The suspects are described as two or possibly three white men aged 25 to 30 with fair hair.