Knife-wielding murderer pounces on father as his children sleep just feet away

The body of 33-year-old Daniel Quelch was discovered when his mother Barbara returned home after taking her dogs for an early morning walk.

She found a stranger in the kitchen of her bungalow who is said to have calmly told Mrs Quelch that he was a police officer, and that there was nothing to worry about. He then walked off.

The killer had also apparently broken off as he stabbed Mr Quelch and returned to attack him further after selecting a sharper knife from the kitchen.

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When Mrs Quelch, 59, came into the house, she called the police to tell them about the intruder and then went looking for her son. She found his body upstairs in the bedroom, covered in blood. He had been repeatedly stabbed and his throat cut.

A man was arrested at the scene, on a quiet country lane in Maidenhead, Berkshire, 15 minutes after Mrs Quelch called the police on Thursday morning. He was taken away in handcuffs.

Neighbours saw children being led away wrapped in blankets shortly afterwards.

Mr Quelch, from Reading, had been staying with his mother while his 63-year-old father Ernest and two older brothers went on a fishing trip to Canada. Two of his three young children were also staying at the house.

A police source said it appeared to be an entirely random attack by a disturbed assailant.

He added: "Apparently he thought MI5 had told him to go and do it.

"He initially stabbed Daniel in bed and then went back to the kitchen to get a serrated knife because in his words, 'the man wouldn't die'. When Mrs Quelch came home, he told her everything was OK because he was a police officer."

Mr Quelch, who worked with his father as a builder, was unmarried and had been staying with his mother to keep her company at the four-bedroom bungalow on a leafy street.

He had three young children aged two, five and eight. The two eldest were staying in the house at the time of the attack, as well as a neighbour's young daughter.

Daniel's 39-year-old brother Patrick, a schoolteacher living in High Wycombe, spoke of the family's shock yesterday. "It's terrible - we just can't believe it," he said.

"I was fishing with my dad Ernest and brother Robert in Canada when it happened.

"We went away last Monday and Robert phoned home on Thursday and was told the news. We all jumped on the first plane home.

"Danny was my youngest brother - he was a great guy. My mum's just in complete shock and can't get over it."

Neighbours in the quiet country lane, which has large houses on one side and fields opposite, described the Quelches as a "lovely family".

Reg Jones, 70, said: "This is just horrendous. Danny was the youngest of four boys and they're all great.

"His dad Ernie was just retiring as a builder and roofer and Danny was taking over the business.

"He was a lovely chap - he took after his dad, who will always help you out whenever you need anything done."

He added: "Barbara went to walk her dogs early and came back and discovered Danny.

"Two of his kids were there because they were having a sleepover with another little girl who lives down the road.

"When her mum saw all the police outside the house on Thursday morning she raced up the road to get her, but apparently she didn't see or hear anything. It's so shocking as it's so quite round here - there's never any burglaries or anything like that.

"The most that has ever been stolen is a lawnmower."

Superintendent Mike Ismay of Thames Valley Police said yesterday: "I would like to reassure the community that this is an isolated incident, and that we are not at this stage looking for anyone else in connection with the inquiry."

He urged anyone in the vicinity of Cherry Garden Lane between 4am and 7am on Thursday to contact police.

Benjamin Frankum, 25, of Littlehampton, West Sussex, was yesterday charged with the murder of Mr Quelch.

He appeared in the dock at Slough magistrates court lookflanked by two guards.

Frankum spoke only to confirm his name and address.

He will appear at Reading Crown Court next month.