A man wanted in connection with the previously reported violent attack against Billy Bell/Leeson of up coming band Les Incompetents has reportedly handed himself into police. Reports suggest the man attended a North London police station over the weekend and was promptly arrested. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police told reporters: "The man attended a north London police station voluntarily and was arrested. He is being questioned today".
As previously reported, police put out a call for witnesses to come forward last Thursday, a week on from the late night attack against Leeson, who was travelling home after performing at a sell out gig at the Camden Barfly.
Despite some early optimism regarding Leeson's condition, at the end of the week a more cautious note from his brother Stan was posted on the band's website, reporting that: "Today Billy underwent a five hour operation, a piece of his skull was removed to relieve pressure on his brain, this was done successfully. However his brain is now very inflamed, this inflammation has spread to the rest of his body. The next 48 hours are crucial". However he added: "Please try to think positively for Bill, however irrational this may sound I can't see this being the end, it's just not Bill. We can only hope and pray."
More recently, the police spokesman yesterday said: "Mr Leeson is in a critical but stable condition."
Meanwhile the band's manager, Phil Halliday, echoed police calls for any witnesses of the attack to come forward. He told reporters: "Billy is really intelligent and articulate; great fun and incredibly talented. Hopefully he will get better soon and when he does he has the potential to do whatever he puts his hand to. His family and friends are giving him a great deal of support and thinking positively. If anyone knows anything or had been to Barfly where the band had been playing, or watching the Croatia V Australia match, I would ask them to please contact police."
Anyone with information can contact Islington CID on 020 7421 0350 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.