A PROLIFIC offender who used a pick-up truck to murder a man in Harlow has been convicted thanks to evidence gathered by our major crime team.

That’s despite the efforts of the killer, 51-year-old Jeremy Heath, who attempted to cover up his involvement and lie his way through the investigation.

On 29 March last year, Heath used a silver Mitsubishi pick-up truck as a weapon, pinning 26-year-old Arlind Xhokola to a tree near a cycle track off Momples Road as he tried to flee.

Arlind suffered serious injuries and died at the scene.

After carrying out the murder, Heath – together with passengers Joe Jones, 38, and Matthew Arnold, 40 – abandoned the vehicle.

Heath then set it alight in an unsuccessful attempt to destroy evidence.

Despite several attempts to lie low and evade arrest, all three men were in custody by 2 April.

An investigation led by detectives, officers and staff from our Serious Crime Directorate – supported by local and neighbourhood policing teams – swiftly gathered witness statements, vital CCTV footage and forensic evidence.

By piecing together events from 29 March, investigators found the likely motive involved the use and supply of Class A drugs.

All three suspects were regular drug users.

A jury heard the evidence during a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court this month.

The investigation proved the following:

Shortly after 11am on 29 March, Arnold was messaging an Albanian-run drug line.

He was also in contact with Heath and Jones.

By the afternoon, CCTV showed the three men together, travelling around Harlow in the pick-up truck.

At around 4pm, an hour before the murder, they robbed a man at knifepoint of a black Ford Fiesta, believing it contained drugs or cash.

When a search of the car revealed it contained neither, they abandoned it and went to a pub in Harlow, where they sold stolen meat until around 4.30pm.

By 5pm, the three suspects encountered Arlind, who was walking with two friends in the area of Momples Road.

What happened during this brief encounter remains unclear, but a message sent by Heath in late 2024 revealed he had previously been involved in robbing an Albanian-run drugs gang.

Whatever dispute took place between the two groups, a chase began.

Arlind ran onto a nearby cycle track, likely believing he could escape Heath, who pursued him at speed behind the wheel of the pick-up truck.

Heath smashed the vehicle through a bollard, drove onto the cycle path, and deliberately aimed the truck at the fleeing Arlind.

The jury heard that Arlind stood no chance. He was killed as a direct result of Heath’s intentional actions.

Heath then drove the truck to the end of the cycle track before abandoning it.

The three men fled on foot, Heath setting the vehicle on fire in a further attempt to destroy evidence linking him to the murder and earlier robbery.

By 6pm, Heath, Jones and Arnold had separated.

Heath then made several calls, including to the Albanian-run drug line Arnold had messaged earlier that day.

Making the arrests

Heath and Arnold remained in Harlow.

Heath was traced to an address in the town, which was surrounded by armed officers from our Force Support Unit on 31 March. He was promptly arrested.

Arnold had suffered serious injuries during the fatal collision and was later admitted to hospital, where he was arrested on 1 April.

Jones, with the help of associates, fled to an address in Sheerness, Kent, where he hid.

He was tracked down and arrested on 2 April.

Heath denied charges of murder, robbery, possession of a knife in a public place, and perverting the course of justice.

Jones and Arnold denied robbery, and Jones further denied possession of a knife in a public place.

They were convicted on all counts on Monday 26 January.

Sentencing will take place at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday 27 January.

In a statement, Arlind’s partner said: “Arlind was a very sweet, kind, and gentle young man, who wanted to make his own family.

“He had a good heart, and those who truly knew him know that he was not a bad person.

“He was respectful, caring, and left a positive impression on the people around him.”

Detective Inspector James Holmes, who led the investigation, said:

“This was a deliberate and ruthless act of violence, using a heavy vehicle as a weapon.

“We have continued to seek justice for Arlind and his family, as well as answers for the community in Harlow.

“Jeremy Heath is a prolific and dangerous criminal. During the course of our investigation, we found he had previously bragged about robbing drug dealers.

“His actions in driving that pick-up truck, with lethal purpose, at Arlind Xhokola were the violent crescendo to a day of criminality carried out by Heath and his associates on 29 March last year.

“Harlow is a safer place with them convicted and behind bars.

“Heath, Jones and Arnold spent the day selling stolen goods and committing robbery in order to obtain crack cocaine.

“It is a familiar story when it comes to Class A drugs, and I fully recognise how awful the facts of this case will be for the people of Harlow to hear.

“The majority of the community in Harlow are good, honest people who were horrified – and likely remain horrified – by what happened that day.

“I want to reassure them that we understood their concerns and matched them with a thorough, relentless investigation, dedicating countless hours and long shifts to securing these convictions.

“Drug-driven violence is an issue we are committed to prioritising and stamping out. Drug addiction and supply lie at the heart of much of the offending we see not just in Harlow, but across Essex.”