A CHURCH leader who helped bring people together in the wake of the riots has appealed to the community to forgive a teenager who admitted killing a pensioner in Ealing.

Darrell Desuze, 17, of Bath Road, Hounslow, pleaded guilty last week to the manslaughter of Haven Green man Richard Mannington Bowes.

The 68-year-old former accountant was killed as he tried to douse fires started by rioters in Spring Bridge Road at about 10.30pm on August 8 last year.

But the Rev Sally Hitchiner, of St John’s Church, in Mattock Lane, West Ealing – where Mr Bowes’ funeral was held last year, and which hosted a multifaith vigil in Ealing Green just days after the riots – asked the public to forgive Desuze, described by a neighbour as a quiet, polite boy who rarely left the house.

She said: “As a community in Ealing we must acknowledge the loss and ensure it doesn’t happen again but also foster a society that promotes forgiveness and moving beyond this. It’s important justice is done but also that we enable people including this young man to move beyond that.”

Mr Mannington Bowes’ sister Anne Wilderspin and her husband Michael, who live in Derbyshire, said they did not wish to comment until after Desuze is sentenced on April 16.

The couple previously thanked the community for their kind wishes following his death.

Ealing Police said Mr Mannington Bowes had paid a ‘terrible price’ for trying to protect his community.

The teen's mother, Lavinia Desuze, of the same address, was convicted of perverting the cause of justice on Wednesday (21) after destroying clothes her son had worn on the fatal night.

The 31-year-old, a student at South Bank University, will be sentenced alongside her son at Inner London Crown Court on April 17.

Do you agree with the reverend that the Ealing community should forgive rioters such as Darrell Desuze? Post your thoughts on our Ealing community site .