Tony Eastlake in his younger days on the flower stall

THE family of a flower seller who was murdered have thanked the community for their support after his killer was sent down for 20 years at the Old Bailey yesterday (Thursday).

Relatives of Tony Eastlake, “the flower man of Essex Road”, spoke to the Tribune after Judge Richard Marks KC handed down a life sentence to James Peppiatt, who was just 21 at the time of the murder.

His daughter Paige Eastlake, who works for Islington Council in its electoral services department, said the outpouring of love for her father had kept the family going during its darkest moments.

“I’d just like to thank the Islington community for all of the support that they have shown me and my family,” the 28-year-old said. “The community have stood by us through our grief. They arranged a vigil for my dad, and the amount of flowers and messages we received were unbelievable.

Paige Eastlake (second left) with her mother Lisa Maggs (left), her cousin Terri Maggs and her aunt Teresa McLaren on the roof of Scotland Yard

“This followed with a turnout of hundreds for his funeral. My dad, Tony, was a safe face of Islington. He would talk to anyone, about anything, and brighten up their day. I couldn’t be prouder of my dad for the lasting legacy he has left as the flower man of Essex Road.”

An Old Bailey jury found Peppiatt guilty of stabbing Mr Eastlake – his late mother’s partner – in the lower back in May 2021 as the florist was trying to walk away following a fight between the two.

During a two-week trial, jurors heard that in the weeks before the killing – which came just a short time after his mother Alisha Callaghan’s suicide – Peppiatt had blamed Mr Eastlake, and brought a knife to a meeting that turned violent.

Tony Eastlake

Judge Marks described the murder as “senseless and needless” and spoke about Peppiatt’s “tragic and emotional” childhood, in which his mother, who suffered from Lupus, had attempted to end her life at least four times. On two occasions, the first being when he was just 15, he was the one to find her. His father was in prison, and his grandmother, whom he also cared for and lived with, had dementia.

The court had heard that Ms Callaghan had made a further, unsuccessful attempt to kill herself two weeks before she died, but that Mr Eastlake – her partner for a matter of months – had kept it secret at her request.

James Peppiatt

Mr Eastlake’s sister Teresa McLaren, who also read out her statement, said the trial had been particularly painful as “the roads Tony’s final moments were played out on are the roads of our childhood”.

Mr Eastlake grew up in Bentham Court on Ecclesbourne Road – the road he fought with Peppiatt on before he was stabbed in adjacent Halliford Street.

She said messages at his stall in the days after he died “gave us strength at a very sad and emotional time” as they could see “how loved and respected he was”.

Commenting on Peppiatt, Ms Eastlake said: “I’m not going to live my life hating someone. He ruined enough of it. I’m not going to let him ruin any more.”

And she added: “If you’re picking up a knife, you’re going to be ready to use it. It only takes one stab and you could be dead.”