In the early hours of July 22, 2024, a quiet motorway slip road in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, became the scene of a tragic and senseless crime that would send shockwaves through the local community and beyond. Two young men, William Birchard, 21, and Darren George, 22, lost their lives after being deliberately rammed by a black pick-up truck driven by Alex Rose, 30, who, along with his passenger Charles Pardoe, 25, had mistaken the pair for burglars. The subsequent pursuit, fatal collision, and the investigation that followed would ultimately result in life sentences for both men and a community left grappling with grief and unanswered questions.
According to Sky News and corroborated by BBC News, Rose, a landscape gardener, believed he had seen burglars near his home in Sunbury on the evening of July 21, 2024. Having previously been burgled at his business premises, Rose was on high alert. He called his friend Pardoe to join him, and together they began driving around the area in Rose’s black Ford Ranger Raptor, searching for anyone they deemed suspicious. Throughout this time, Rose remained on the phone with his girlfriend, Tara Knaggs, 25, who was at home in Great Ayton, Yorkshire.
Shortly before 12:50am, Rose encountered Birchard and George riding a black Talaria Sting e-bike. The two young men, as it turned out, were simply on their way to a pub in Ashford and had not been "anywhere near" Rose’s property, as the trial at Guildford Crown Court later established. Nevertheless, Rose and Pardoe, convinced they were pursuing would-be burglars, initiated a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of up to 60mph—double the speed limit in the area.
The pursuit took a harrowing turn as Birchard and George, desperate to escape, rode the wrong way around a roundabout and onto the M3/A316 slip road, heading against traffic. Rose and Pardoe, undeterred, followed in their truck, also driving the wrong way. The chase culminated in Rose deliberately driving into the back of the e-bike, sending both riders crashing to the tarmac. In a chilling detail, Rose then performed a three-point turn and drove past the two men as they lay motionless on the road.
It was a lorry driver who would later discover the bodies of Birchard and George on the slip road. Birchard died at the scene from catastrophic injuries, including fractures to his skull and face and a severe brain injury, as reported by BBC News and The Independent. George, gravely injured, was rushed to hospital but died later that same day. The devastation felt by their families and the community was immediate and profound.
Police were called to the scene at 12:52am. The investigation quickly identified Rose’s Ford Ranger Raptor as the vehicle involved. In a failed attempt to cover his tracks, Rose falsely reported his truck stolen several hours later—a move that would earn him an additional concurrent sentence of 21 months for perverting the course of justice, as detailed by the Farnham Herald. The following day, officers tracked Rose and Knaggs to Birmingham Airport, where the pair were attempting to board a one-way flight to Istanbul with over £4,000 in cash and minimal luggage. Both were arrested on suspicion of their respective charges, while Pardoe was apprehended the following day.
The trial at Guildford Crown Court laid bare the events of that night. Jurors found both Rose and Pardoe guilty of two counts of murder by majority verdict, sentencing Rose to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 34 years and Pardoe to life with a minimum of 29 years. Knaggs, who had remained in contact with Rose throughout the pursuit and later attempted to flee the country with him, was found guilty of assisting an offender and sentenced to three years in prison, with a minimum of one year and two months to serve before being eligible for parole. A fourth defendant, Samuel Aspden, 25, another friend of Rose who had been driving around the area that evening, was cleared of all murder charges.
The families of the victims delivered heart-wrenching statements in court. William Birchard’s father spoke of his son’s kindness and the irreparable loss suffered by all who knew him: "William was not just a victim of a senseless crime—he was our beloved son, a brother, and a friend to many. His life was filled with promise, and his loss has left a gap that will never be filled. William had a kind heart, a bright smile, and a love for life that touched everyone who knew him." He went on to express gratitude to Surrey Police, the prosecution team, and all those who supported the family through their ordeal, stating, "We will never forget their hard work and the humanity they showed us when we needed it most."
Darren George’s mother, meanwhile, reflected on the lasting impact of her son’s absence: "Darren should still be with us—but he is not. A guilty verdict doesn’t change the past. Justice being served doesn’t heal the loss of our son." She also extended thanks to the emergency services and the wider community for their support, noting that even small acts of kindness from strangers had provided comfort during an unimaginable time.
Detective Inspector Debbie Birch of the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, who led the investigation, acknowledged the pain endured by the families: "Today’s outcome will not change the fact that William and Darren’s lives were cut so unfairly short, but I hope that their loved ones will take some small comfort from seeing justice served." She praised the dedication of her colleagues, stating, "I am grateful to the hard work of our officers and staff who worked so hard to secure these convictions."
The case has left the Sunbury-on-Thames community—and indeed, the nation—grappling with the consequences of vigilantism gone tragically awry. What began as a misapprehension spiraled into an irreversible act of violence, forever altering the lives of two families and leaving a community in mourning. While the sentences handed down may bring a measure of closure, the void left by William Birchard and Darren George will never truly be filled.
