Murder victim had called police about crime

Julian Gardner, 53, was found just after 8am on Monday by his business partner. He was sprawled on the ground near outbuildings at his remote Bush Barn Farm farm in Robertsbridge, East Sussex.

One theory being explored is that Mr Gardner disturbed burglars forcing outbuildings where he ran an agricultural and car repair business.

Sussex Police said the two reports to police by him were “low-level” offences in 2008 and 2009 and were unrelated to burglaries.

Officers refused to give further details but a spokesman said: “The early indications are that he was not a victim of burglary before.”

Last night Mr Gardner’s mother Molly Gardner and his sister Anna Murphy said their lives would never be the same again, adding: “The space he leaves will never be filled.”

In a statement, they said: “He had so much more living to do. If only he had known how many people have had their lives enriched by knowing him.

“He was so honest, so dependable, funny, loyal and hard-working. The space he leaves will never be filled.”

Police have recovered two burnt-out off-road vehicles near the scene of the murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Hibbert, of Sussex Police, said: “We are treating this as a murder inquiry and believe that this was a burglary that went wrong, with tragic consequences. Julian Gardner possibly disturbed an unknown number of people forcing outbuildings where he ran an agricultural and car repair business.”

Mr Gardner was well known locally as an expert on repairing Land Rovers.

He ran an agricultural and car repair business at Bush Barn Farm, where his 90-year-old widowed mother lives.

Chief Inspector Heather Keating added: “He was a hard-working local man who was respected in the community. This is a tragic incident.”