Sinister South Podcast

Key Details

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• Oliver Dearlove, known as "Ollie" to his friends, grew up in South East London.

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• He attended Cooper’s School in Chislehurst and later studied business management at the University of Portsmouth.

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• Worked as a relationship manager at Duncan Lowery Private Bank in Victoria, previously working at Coots and Barclays Wealth Management.

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• Described as kind, friendly, and well-liked by all who knew him.

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• Lived in New Eltham with his long-term girlfriend, Claire Wheatley, with whom he was planning a future.

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• On 27th August 2016, Oliver was out in Blackheath for a university reunion with friends.

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• After visiting several bars, the group was waiting for their taxi outside O’Neill’s on Tranquil Vale.

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• Oliver engaged in a polite conversation with a woman who had removed her heels after dancing, complimenting her and mentioning how well she looked post-pregnancy.

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• The woman was associated with Trevor Timon, who had bought drinks for the group earlier in the night and apparently felt entitled to their attention.

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• Timon became aggressive and confronted Oliver and his friends, saying, "Who the fuck are you boys?"

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• He then issued a threat: "If you don’t get out of my face, I will knock you out."

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• Without further provocation, Timon delivered a single, powerful left-handed punch to the side of Oliver’s head.

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• The punch ruptured an artery in Oliver’s neck, causing fatal brain damage.

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• He collapsed instantly, his body twisting as he hit the pavement.

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• A woman from the group screamed, "He hit him! He hit him!"

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• When asked why he had done it, Timon simply replied, "I'm just pissed off."

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• Personal trainer Matt Whitmore, who was driving by, stopped to help and performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

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• Oliver was placed on life support at hospital, allowing his family to say their goodbyes before he was pronounced dead the next day.

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• Timon was a 31 year old unemployed plasterer from Plumstead with a history of violent offences including punching a woman unconscious outside a pub in 2010. ​

 

• His older brother, Wesley Timon, had been convicted of murder at age 20 in 2005.

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• After the attack on Oliver, he fled to Ireland but later returned and turned himself in to police.

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• Claimed in court that he had reacted to a racist comment—a claim that was never substantiated by any witnesses.

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• Timon was charged with murder but denied intent to cause serious harm.

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• Court heard of his violent past, including previous assaults and threats.

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• Found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, receiving a six-year prison sentence with an additional five years on extended licence.

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• Oliver’s family was devastated by the sentence, with his mother, Joy Wright, stating:

  • "Timon may as well have used a gun or a knife. No parent should have to make the decision to switch off their child's life support."​

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• The judge described Timon’s actions as "unprovoked and gratuitous."

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• Oliver’s death became part of a wider conversation about the dangers of one-punch attacks, where a single impulsive act can end a life.

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• His family and friends have since worked to raise awareness of one-punch killings.

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• Cases like this continue to raise concerns about sentencing for unprovoked violent attacks.