THE mother of a Chippenham man who was killed in the town earlier this year has released a touching statement.

Russell Nixon, 38, of Derby Close, died of fatal injuries following reports of an assault in the early hours of May 10.

Anne Nixon, Mr Nixon's mother, said: “My son Russell was very much loved and will be sadly missed by me.

"He never had an easy life and things were difficult for him but he had many good points.

"Russell was a really practical man and could make anything out of wood, he had a love of nature and enjoyed his fishing.

"Russell was always a very helpful person and would help anyone if they needed his help, he was so kind hearted.

"I hope Russell has now found his peace - he always has a special place in my heart as I have always loved him."

Matthew Chapman, 22, of Wood Lane, pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr Nixon at Bristol Crown Court this morning (Thursday, October 02). He is due to be sentenced on Tuesday, November 14.

Detective Inspector Jim Taylor, of the Brunel Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “Firstly, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family of Russell who are struggling to come to terms with this tragic and sudden loss.

“It was evident from the injuries sustained that this was a violent and horrific attack which occurred in the early hours of the morning. The disorder happened close to a number of houses and many residents were awoken by the tragic incident.

"I am thankful to the member of the public who alerted police so quickly. Combined with the local knowledge of community policing team officers, we were able to swiftly make an arrest and ensure evidence was preserved which was crucial to the case.

“This incident understandably had a huge impact on the local community – Chippenham is a quiet town and incidents like this are rare. Violence of any kind will not be tolerated within our county and we will do all that we can to ensure violent individuals like Chapman are put before the courts and brought to justice.”