Brit ex-football ref ‘hacked to death with machete’ in Kenya days after reporting someone tried to poison his dogs

A FORMER football referee was reportedly hacked to death with a machete in Kenya just days after reporting someone tried to poison his dogs.

British man John Middleton, 75, was found with stab wounds in the bath of his home in the southern city of Mombasa.

Mr Middleton, who had previously lived in Norfolk, was set to go golfing on Saturday morning but didn't show up, his club captain, Dinesh Sasan said.

The ex footie ref had also said someone tried to poison his dogs in the days leading up to his death, Mr Sasan told the BBC.

The machete used in the attack was reportedly left behind and nothing was stolen from the property, local media reports.

Jamleck Mbuba, the deputy county commissioner for the Kisauni constituency, said "a slight struggle" seemed to have occurred.

But he told NTV Kenya: "The scene was not very disturbed."

The Brit's housekeeper was said to have raised the alarm after he did not answer his doorbell on Saturday morning.

Described by his friends in Kenya as "a wonderful guy", Mr Middleton was a keen golfer who played at the nearby Nyali Golf and Country Club.

Mr Sasan, who had known the former ref since 2015, said: "I used to be with him three or four times a week. We were all sitting together on Friday evening.

"He was very polite, he would stick to his principles and was very helpful. I am totally shocked. It is beyond belief."

The club captain added that the British High Commission was now involved and that a post-mortem was due to be carried out.

Kelvin Gitau, John's stepson from his second marriage, paid tribute to Mr Middleton on social media. 

He wrote: "Words can't even explain my emotions right now.

"Before he emigrated to Kenya, he was a well-known member of the North Norfolk community. But more importantly, he's been an incredible father to me since I was three years old.

"My heart is truly broken beyond belief at how cruelly John has been taken from our lives and I'm still trying to process it all.

"John was a larger-than-life character, loved by his family, friends and will truly be missed by all who knew him."

Mr Middleton's death follows the murder of his wife Regina six years ago. 

She was tragically killed during a break-in in 2018 at her home some 12 miles north of Utange.

Mr Sasan went on to say that Mr Middleton's residence in the Utange district was not in a popular area for expatriates.

"Unfortunately the area he was in was not a very secure one" he explained.

Mr Middleton, a retired Anglian Water engineer, relocated to Kenya in 2014 to live with his wife Regina and their stepson Max.

He had been a referee in Norfolk, a member of Cromer Golf Club, and had lived on Hooks Hills Road in Sheringham.

The Norfolk FA said it was "saddened" to hear of his death and said in a statement: "John officiated for many years in the county and was a committed and well-liked match official.

"The thoughts of all at Norfolk FA are with John’s family and friends at this sad time."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was "supporting the family of a British man who has died in Kenya and are in contact with the local authorities".