Pc Dave Phillips' life 'stolen from him' by hit-and-run murder

Grieving loved ones of murdered policeman Dave Phillips spoke today of the life "stolen from him".

The father of two young girls was killed while trying to stop burglars in a stolen Mitsubishi pick-up truck in Wallasey, Merseyside, in the early hours of Monday morning.

He "didn't stand a chance" as the truck ploughed into him and died in hospital shortly afterwards.

Two men are under arrest for murder, along with four other people held as part of the investigation.

Pc Phillips had been robbed of seeing his children's excited faces on Christmas morning, romantic moments with his wife, seeing his children grow up, walking his daughters down the aisle and the joy of grandchildren, his sister said.

His family released a touching video of his daughters, Abigail, aged seven, and three-year-old Sophie, playing with cousins at their home, talking about their hero "super daddy", while his sisters and best friend spoke at an emotional press conference at Merseyside Police HQ in Liverpool.

Widow Jennifer Phillips, 28, was flanked by her husband's sister, Hannah Whieldon, 31, who said that just hours before his final fatal shift began on Sunday he was with his wife filming their daughter Sophie, "beaming" with smiles, singing and dancing.

"Now he will never see his precious girls age even a minute more," she said.

"They'll never be young women to him now. He'll never get to raise his eyebrow disapprovingly at any future boyfriends.

"He'll never walk them down the aisle, glowing with the pride he felt every day for his Abi and Sophie.

"He was stolen from us but, by God, what was stolen from him?"

Mrs Phillips sobbed and dabbed her eyes as she was overcome by emotion, hearing her family describe her husband's life.

Mrs Whieldon continued: "Two girls have been left without a daddy. My mum and dad left without their only son, their eldest child. My sister and I without the big brother who always kept an eye on us, even when, as moody teenagers, we'd have really rather he hadn't.

"But beyond all our combined grief - which, believe me, makes it hard to breathe - is that of his beautiful wife Jen.

"She's only 28. It's her birthday next month. She won't be a pampered wife getting breakfast in bed - she will be a grieving widow."

After the couple's third date together they each told their mothers: "I've met the one."

The officer's sister added: "And all we have are hollow memories that can't be held or hugged and a pain that won't stop."

She read a poem her brother wrote and gave to his wife for their fourth wedding anniversary earlier this year, which said: "Thank you for blessing me with four wonderful years ... you're always the one on whom I can depend, more than my lover, my best friend", and ending with the line: "You are my heart, my soul, my eternity."

Kate Phillips, his youngest sister, described her brother as her "hero".

"It hurts to look ahead and I'm afraid to look back," she said, "so right now I look beside me. And besides me are people I am so proud of, especially our darling Jen, Abi and Sophie."

Dave George, the officer's childhood friend and best man at his wedding in 2011, said it was always his friend's ambition to join the police, becoming a Special Constable before joining the Merseyside force in 2006.

Mr George said: "Words can't describe what Dave means to us and how all his family and friends are hurting at this time.

"He was never happier than talking about his wife, children and family."