Kentish Express Ashford & District
Tributes as young dad found dead
Father-of-three died day after leaving prison
Shocked friends have paid tribute to a young father from Ashford who was found dead the day after being released from prison.
Martin Johnson, 30, a former Christchurch School pupil who used to live off Stanhope Road, died suddenly at a flat in Folkestone on Tuesday.
Friends say the dad-of-three had been freed from prison the day before, after serving nearly eight months for beating up and stealing cash from his father.
But they said there was another side to the troubled young man, who had a kind heart and who was a passionate supporter of Manchester United.
Close friend Scotty Glover said: “He was a funloving, kind, warm-hearted family man who loved his kids so much.
“His dad, mum and sister are phenomenal and Martin loved them deeply.”
A young man from Ashford has been found dead just hours after he was released from prison.
It is understood Martin Johnson, 30, was found dead at a flat in Folkestone on Tuesday.
The dad-of-three had been freed from prison just the day before, after serving nearly eight months for beating up and stealing cash from his father.
But friends paying tribute to the former Christchurch School pupil said there was another side to the troubled young man with a kind heart, who was a passionate Manchester United supporter.
Scotty Glover, a close friend from Manchester who had known him for more than a decade, paid tribute to his ‘Southern Brother’ who had helped him through dark times.
He said: “Martin was one of the first people I met after moving to Kent from Manchester.
“I was going through some tough times and living on the streets. The Royal British Legion helped me out and Martin and his family took me in as one of their own.
“I am now back home in Manchester with a family of my own and a successful company, but if it wasn’t for Martin being there through my darkest times, I wouldn’t be where I am now, with what I have today.
“He was a fun-loving, kind, warm-hearted family man who loved his kids so much.
“His dad, mum and sister are phenomenal, and Martin loved them deeply.
“He was also loved by many in Kent and Manchester.
“He was Man United crazy and loved to watch a match. He had a great sense of humour and could light up a room with his cheeky grin.”
A friend of his family, who asked not to be named, added: “His parents are distraught, and friends have been leaving tribute messages on his private Facebook page ever since.
“They have described him as a funny guy, a good friend, a loving person and a beautiful person inside and out who was taken too soon.”
‘If it wasn’t for Martin being there through my darkest times, I wouldn’t be where I am now’