Man charged with murder of court bailiff in County Durham | UK news

A man has been charged with the murder of a court bailiff who was attacked at work.

Jeff Blair, 55, died in hospital after suffering serious injuries while on duty in Shildon, County Durham, on Tuesday.

Robert Davies, 49, is charged with murder, possession of an offensive weapon and affray.

In a statement released after Blair’s death, his family said they were “devastated” by the tragic loss and that he would be “forever missed”.

“Jeff was a beloved son, brother, father, partner, uncle and good friend to many,” they said.

“His ability to apply humor and laughter to every situation and lighten the mood will be irreplaceable for our family.

“We are so sorry to have lost Jeff in such a tragic situation and he will be forever missed and always remembered with great love and affection.”

Blair worked as a police officer with the Durham police force for 22 years before retiring in 2017 and then becoming an enforcement officer.

Court bailiffs will be able to visit people’s homes if they have outstanding debts such as parking fees, council tax bills or court orders, according to the government website. The bailiff may also be used to serve court documents or issue notices and subpoenas.

A spokesman for HM Courts and Tribunals Service said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with Jeff Blair’s family, friends and those who worked with him.

“This was a shocking and terrible incident.

“Violence against our hard-working staff is completely unacceptable and we are providing support to colleagues affected by this tragedy.”

It is understood the court service will now examine what happened and whether further measures need to be taken to protect bailiffs in the course of their work.

Detective Constable Ch Insp Sharon Alderson, who is leading the investigation, said: “This was an extremely distressing incident that has caused great shock to the local community.

“Our thoughts are with Jeff’s family and everyone who knew and loved him at this difficult time.

“We will maintain a police presence at the scene and I would like to thank the public and nearby residents for their patience, understanding and cooperation as we work to establish exactly what happened.

“We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information that could assist the investigation and has not yet spoken to us.”

Davies was remanded in custody before appearing at Peterlee magistrates’ court on Friday.

Police have appealed to anyone with information to call Durham Constabulary on 101, citing incident number 209 of March 10. Information can also be sent anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.