Man charged with Sir Richard Sutton’s murder is son of the millionaire hotelier’s partner

The son of Sir Richard Sutton’s partner has been charged with murder after the hotelier was found stabbed at his £2million mansion.

Thomas Schreiber was set to appear in court on Monday having been detained on Wednesday night in Chiswick, west London, after Sir Richard, who had an estimated family fortune of £301 million, was killed in his Dorset home.

On Saturday, 34-year-old Mr Schreiber was charged with murder, attempted murder and dangerous driving.

Police say the aristocrat, named last year as one of the UK’s richest men, was stabbed to death in his mansion. An initial post-mortem examination indicated that his cause of death was stab wounds to his chest.

Sir Richard’s partner, 65-year-old Anne Schreiber, who is Mr Schreiber’s mother, suffered knife wounds and was in a “critical” condition after being airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Police confirmed that they received reports at 7.30pm on April 7 raising concern for the welfare of the homeowners of an address in Higher Langham, near Gillingham, Dorset.

Upon their arrival, officers found Sir Richard and Mr Schreiber both with serious injuries. The millionaire hotel owner, 83, was pronounced dead at the scene at around 9.15pm.

A murder investigation was launched before Mr Schreiber was arrested on suspicion of murder in London, hours later. He was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening and was subsequently taken into police custody.

Detective Inspector Simon Huxter, of Dorset Police, said: “Our thoughts remain with the victims’ family and all of those affected by this terrible incident.

“Dorset Police have been authorised to formally charge Thomas Schreiber with the murder of Sir Richard, attempted murder of the injured woman and dangerous driving.

“It is important to stress that it would be entirely inappropriate for Dorset Police to comment further ahead of the trial. It is vital that the criminal justice system is allowed to follow its course.”

Sir Richard was listed at number 435 in The Sunday Times Rich List in 2020 with an estimated family fortune of £301 million – a rise of £83 million on the previous year.

The guide says Sir Richard's company owns London hotels the Sheraton Grand Park Lane and the Athenaeum, plus three smaller venues.

He had an extensive property and farming portfolio, including the 6,500-acre Benham Estate in West Berkshire and the Stainton Estate in Lincolnshire.