Trader Robin Clark gunned down at train station in Essex
City trader was shot in the leg at Shenfield station in Essex Facebook

A top city banker remains in hospital after being gunned down by a hitman at an Essex railway station.

Robin Clark, 44, was blasted in the leg by a masked gunman as he got out of his Ford S-Max car at Shenfield station at 5.50am on Friday, on his way to work.

Police believe the dad was "deliberately targeted" by the attacker, who fled the scene in a vehicle parked nearby.

Clark, who works for City brokerage firm RP Martin, was rushed to Basildon Hospital. Last night his injuries were described as serious but not life-threatening.

His ex-wife, Natalie, 42, said: "This has left me very shaken."

Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson said: "At this stage we believe the victim of this assault was deliberately targeted.

"We do not believe this incident was gang-related and I would like to reassure the public that there is no reason for any undue concern.

"Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances, including the motive behind the attack."

Residents have been shocked by the shooting in the affluent suburb.

A taxi driver who was near the scene said: "I heard a really loud bang but I assumed it was a car backfiring. You don't expect people to be running around with guns in a place like this. It's a nice area with lots of expensive houses."

A spokesman for RP Martin said: "We are giving Robin all the support we can."

Cash flow problems

British Transport Police are investigating Clark's personal life in an attempt to establish a motive for the attack.

Friends described him as a party lover who enjoyed a Playboy lifestyle.

One told the Sun: "He works hard and plays hard and loves the ladies."

Referring to the new Martin Scorsese film The Wolf of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the friend added: "Robin is like the Wolf of Shenfield.

"He is a high octane City boy who gives it large in whatever he does."

Another friend suggested Clark had serious cash flow problems and was recently forced to rent out his £2.2 million home in the nearby village of Stock and sell his beloved Porsches.

He has an outstanding county court writ of £14,653 lodged against him in April last year.

City analyst and BBC financial pundit David Buik, who used to work with Robin, said: "He'd go down as one of the top three brokers I'd ever come across."

Clark has mixed with the rich and famous – including F1 driver Lewis Hamilton – during his time at RP Martin.

He has two sons with his ex-wife, who lives in Epping.