Tribute has been paid to a Telford man found murdered in his flat. Barry Evans, 45, was discovered at his home in Bembridge, Brookside, on July 7.

Despite emergency treatment by paramedics, he died of stab wounds.

His son Damian Gannon, 22, of Shrewsbury, today described him as a “people’s person” and a “good dad”.

He was adopted at the age of seven and moved to Ireland. He later returned to Shropshire and lived with his father for some time.

He said his father had been a police officer for some years and had also been a security guard and had run an ice cream van. He used to live in Hurleybrook Way, Leegomery, and has one other son, Nathan, 15, who lives in the Newport area.

Mr Gannon, who works at The Mytton and Mermaid pub in Atcham, said: “He wrote to me through social services while I was in Ireland, and I came back here when I was 18 and I lived with him for a while.

“He has been a good dad. Everybody knew he was a friendly guy. He gave everyone the time of day. He was a people’s person.”

He said he was aware his father faced problems with drink and drugs, but said: “Even though he had his problems he was getting help and getting sorted.

“And no-one deserves to go in this way. He will be sadly missed by everybody.”

Christopher Ojuile, a neighbour of Mr Evans, said: “He was very quiet, I did not know him very well. Whenever we did speak he was always very pleasant and polite.”

Anyone with information about Mr Evans’s death is asked to contact Telford police on 08457 444888.

Wendy Walters, 42, also of Bembridge, has been charged with Mr Evans’s murder and will appear at Shrewsbury Crown Court on July 23.