THE heartbroken family of a loving father who was stabbed during a fatal attack in broad daylight last weekend have paid tribute to the community for pulling together during their time of need.
Emergency services were called to Burton Road’s junction with Rotherham Road, in Monk Bretton, at 4.23pm last Sunday after receiving reports of an altercation between a group of men.
Upon arrival they found Alan Sutton known by friends and family as Algi who sustained suspected stab wounds to the chest.
Despite the best efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident shook the whole community, with countless people paying tribute to the 41-year-old both online and by leaving flowers near the scene.
However, while the news has been shocking for all, it most heavily hit his devastated family.
Algi’s dad, also named Alan, thanked the local community for their wishes this week.
He told the Chronicle: “I want to thank the people of Monk Bretton we’ve had some lovely words and thoughts sent.
“I’ve had nearly 3,000 posts put on my Facebook wall.
“I’m really overwhelmed with the support we’ve been getting from people it’s not just from Monk Bretton, but all over Barnsley and the world, we’ve had messages from as far as America and Australia.
“But it’s hard you try and get on with things and put on a brave face, then it creeps up on you and hits you round the back of the head.”
The father and son were incredibly close, particularly because of their shared passion for motorbikes.
Algi has loved bikes ‘since he was a little kid’ and he and his father spent years working with the Proud of Barnsley-winning Wombwell Dragons Motorcycle Club, where they took part in a variety of events to raise cash for charity.
“Together we’ve raised thousands and thousands of pounds for charity,” Alan, of Wombwell, added.
“We’ve also done funeral processions and weddings he was very involved with it all and really loved it.
“Now that the road’s back open we’re hoping to sort out a big biker procession for him.
“He was well known in the biker community and I know some of them have already been to lay flowers for him.”
His death has also left a hole in the lives of his partner Diana Shepherd and two children Rhys, 23, and six-year-old Harley.
Diana said: “He was an amazing dad - he adored and was proud of his son and daughter - they were his world.
“He was a community man and he would have done anything to help anyone if he could.
“He was my soulmate and the love of my life.
“My heart and his children’s hearts have been shattered into a million pieces, as has his family and friends’.
“We’ve been blown away by all the support, it’s overwhelming and I can’t say how much we appreciate it.”
Police have been swift to respond, arresting seven people over the course of the week with one being charged for murder.
Callum Strachan, 21, of Burton Road, Monk Bretton, appeared before Barnsley Magistrates’ Court yesterday, where he was remanded in custody to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday.
Four others have been arrested, two on suspicion of murder - a 19-year-old woman and a man aged 32 - a 41-year-old on suspicion of affray and assault and another man aged 40 on suspicion of affray, criminal damage, possession of an offensive weapon and assault - but have all been bailed pending further enquiries.
A 50-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of affray, with a 36-year-old woman also arrested on suspicion of affray as well as perverting the course of justice - they both remain in police custody.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Ben Wood, added: “Our enquiries into Alan’s tragic death are continuing at pace.
“We made several arrests within hours of the incident and are keen to hear from anyone with any information that could help our investigation into this incident.
“Our thoughts are with Alan’s family at this difficult time.”
