Police investigating the death of a man who died a month in a coma a month after challenging a suspected car thief have made an arrest.

Officers received reports of an injured man on Peareswood Road in Erith at 3am on December 29.

Marc Allen, 51, was taken to Kings College Hospital with head injuries.

He remained in a coma for the next month and he died on January 29.

Detectives believe on the night of the incident, Mr Allen came out of his property to take issue with a man who was attempting to steal his car from his driveway.

The suspect was inside the vehicle and it is understood he deliberately drove towards the victim - hitting him and forcing him over the top of the car.

Mr Allen was left lying in the driveway with head injuries and the suspect drove off in the car.

On December 31, the car - a grey Mercedes GLA - was recovered from the E14 area.

Officers believe immediately after the incident, it was left in the vicinity of Bronze Age Way in Erith for a number of hours.

A 27-year-old man was arrested today in E14 on suspicion of murder and burglary.

He was taken into custody at an east London police station where he remains.

Det Insp Jason Fitzpatrick, of specialist crime south, said: "This was a brutal and callous attack on an innocent man on his own doorstep.

"For simply defending his property, Mr Allen has paid the ultimate price, with his life; and my thoughts and sympathies are with his family at this time.

"Our enquiries are ongoing to try and establish how the suspect gained access to the keys for the vehicle and at this time I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or subsequently saw the car being driven in the area to come forward."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Specialist Crime South on 020 8721 4622 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111 or by completing an online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org

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