Boy, 10, quizzed over death of ‘perfect gentleman’ aged 79

Victor Hepworth, 79, was found lying in the street in Back Hill Top Avenue, Harehills, following an incident shortly after 6pm on Sunday. Despite being taken to hospital, his death was confirmed on Sunday night.

The schoolboy was yesterday questioned by officers from West Yorkshire Police’s homicide and major enquiry team before being released on bail pending further enquiries.

A post-mortem revealed Mr Hepworth – a sacristan at his local St Aidan’s Church and a retired hospital porter – had not died of a head injury he sustained. Further examinations will take place to establish the cause of his death.

Detectives are also building up a picture of the circumstances that led up to the incident, including suggestions from neighbours it may have been linked to previous problems with ball games.

Peter Tchaikovsky, a friend and near neighbour of Mr Hepworth, who lived in Hill Top Mount, said he had trouble with children playing football behind his house and added: “I had to tell them to move on.”

Another neighbour, Abdul Hannan, said he had heard of similar complaints. “I wouldn’t want to speculate, but it could be linked to that,” he said.

Mr Hannan described Mr Hepworth as “exceptional” and added: “He would go out of his way to clean the streets, pick up rubbish, put people’s bins out. He would help kids fix their bikes.

“It’s a tragedy to lose somebody of that status.”

Mohammed Rauf, who works at the nearby Paul’s Superstore, said: “When I heard the news I was heartbroken.

“He has come in here almost every day for 30 years. He would do anything for anyone and I would always see him out in the street early in the morning picking up litter.

“He is well known around here and everyone you speak to says what a perfect gentleman he was.”