Family pay tribute to 'loveable rogue' Adrian Locke (From Malvern Gazette)

Family pay tribute to 'loveable rogue' Adrian Locke

12:06pm Monday 7th January 2013 in News By Catherine Phillips, Reporter

THE family of a man stabbed to death in Tolladine have paid tribute to their ‘loveable rogue' and appealed for the public to support the police's investigation.

Adrian Locke, aged 39, of Wych Road, Droitwich, was found by paramedics with stab wounds outside 42a Teme Road on Wednesday. 

Despite their efforts, he was confirmed dead at the scene by a doctor a short time later.

A post mortem examination found the cause of death was a stab wound to the torso.

His family say that while Adrian was no saint, his death has devastated them, in particular his mother Lilly.

She said: "Adie has sometimes been on the wrong side of the law, but he was a loveable rogue.

"His family was his life and he was a brilliant uncle to his nieces and nephews, who idolised him. He was always generous and couldn't do enough for them.

"He was a big kid himself and a real joker who was always teasing the kids with all sorts of tricks.

"He also had a teenage son, who he did not see much of as he grew up, but they had been getting to know each other recently. It's so sad that chance has now gone.

"Adie enjoyed the simple things in life that cost nothing and he had simple tastes: he didn't need expensive stuff and loved his mountain bike because it gave him freedom and the opportunity to get out and work.

"He did building and gardening work and was a hard worker. He liked his work."

Lilly Locke led the family's appeal for those with information about Adrian's death to contact West Mercia Police, saying: "For the sake of our family, please help the police if you know anything. We need to know who killed Adrian and why.

"We hope in time we can piece together exactly what happened to him that night, and hope in time that we get justice for him.

"We will never get over what as happened: it has left a hole in our hearts that will never heal. His death has left us all heartbroken and we don't know how we will cope without him - he meant the world to me.

"I just want him to come home to his mum, but I know that will never happen."