Police search for intruders after shooting in St Ives near Ringwood

Police received reports that at least two intruders had entered a house in Castlewood at St Ives and Guy Hedger had been shot just after 3am on Sunday 30 April. It was reported the men, who wore balaclavas, stole jewellery including designer watches before fleeing.

Officers attended the address and Mr Hedger was taken to hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.

A murder investigation, conducted by Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT), is underway. The £1m property at Castlewood remains cordoned off while crime scene investigators carry out their examinations.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Derbyshire, of MCIT, said: “We are still trying to establish a motive for the intruders and why this particular address in Castlewood was targeted.

“We believe there was an element of preplanning involved. Therefore we would urgently like to hear from anyone, who may have seen people or vehicles acting suspiciously in the area directly before or during the days leading up to the incident. This may have involved people in the area in general or paying particular attention to the specific house. Any small detail may help us with our investigation.

“Currently we do not believe the offenders were known to the victim, however we continue to investigate all lines of enquiry.

“I am also appealing for anyone who may have seen somebody making off from the area, maybe in a vehicle possibly driving recklessly, to contact Dorset Police as soon as possible.

“There will be a heavy police presence in the vicinity and officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be carrying out high visibility patrols to offer reassurance to the community and can be contacted with any concerns.”

Guy Hedger’s next of kin are being supported by specially trained officers and the family has requested privacy at this deeply traumatic time.

He was listed as living at the property with Simon-Pierre Hedger-Cooper, who was reportedly his husband of 12 years.

Guy Hedger was marketing director at Avonbourne International and Business and Enterprise Trust, which runs colleges and a primary school in the Bournemouth area. It was reported that prior to working for the academies, he was a marketing director at insurer Liverpool Victoria and had worked for Direct Line.