Dave was hacked to death in a Sutton pub beer garden

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A FATHER-OF-TWO was stabbed to death in the garden bar of a suburban pub in front of horrified drinkers.

David Stevenson, 28, was drinking at the New Inn, in Sutton, south London, with his family and girlfriend when two men attacked him.

Witnesses said the scaffolder was dragged into a beer garden at the back of the Myrtle Road pub where he was slashed with machetes.

One woman said the victim's seven-year-old son Luke saw the attack. His father Roger and girlfriend were also there.

Mr Stevenson had been drinking with friends after watching Chelsea play Manchester United in the Community Shield.

Police said three men aged 20, 24 and 56 were being questioned about the killing today. The 24 and 56-year-olds are believed to be father and son.

The victim's father, retired firefighter Roger Stevenson, 54, described his son as a "loveable rogue".

Mr Stevenson told local journalists: "He was loved by lots of people. He was a very popular man, he was everybody's friend. He was always laughing."

His twin brother Ricky Stevenson, 28, said: "Obviously I will miss him, he's a part of me. He's gone and he isn't going to come back. None of this seems real at the moment."

A 30-year-old woman, whose boyfriend was a friend of the dead man, said a fight "got out of hand".

She said: "From what I know, he was a nice guy - a bit of a joker. My partner is devastated, everybody around here is really."

Police were called to the New Inn pub in Sutton at 7.20pm last night to find Stevenson lying fatally wounded in a pool of blood.

He was rushed to hospital by ambulance but died an hour later.

Floral tributes were laid close to an alleyway that runs off Lind Road at the rear of the pub, which was cordoned off by police.

One read: "RIP Waffy. My thoughts are with you and all who knew you." Another said: "So, so sad. Rest in peace, God bless."

A full pint of cider was also left among the tributes.

Neighbours in Myrtle Road told how they heard a loud argument and dogs barking just after the incident.

One, who declined to be named, said: “I was out in my garden when I heard lots of shouting and dogs barking. They weren’t police dogs, they sounded like staffies.”

Another 48-year-old local resident told how the pub had been plagued by violence in the past year and had changed landlords several times in recent years.

“This has been coming for some time. They have had their problems with drugs and they have had to shut the bar a couple of times already this year because of altercations there.”

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “We were called at 7.20pm last night to the New Inn in Myrtle Road, Sutton, to reports of a stabbing. A male victim in his 20s was found in the garden bar at the rear of the pub. He was taken to hospital, but died an hour later from his injuries.

"The parties are thought to be known to each other.

"I believe there was some internal feud or disagreement, but we are yet to speak to some witnesses."

The spokesman added that the men were being questioned at separate south London police stations by murder squad detectives.

A post-mortem examination was taking place at St Helier Hospital today. Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.