NEIGHBOURS are struggling to come to terms with the tragic murder of a father-of-four who was stabbed to death in Cradley Heath.

Named locally as Martin Briggs, the 47-year-old was found with multiple fatal stab wounds at his Corngreaves Walk home shortly before midday on Monday (November 13).

A 43-year-old man, who was arrested from a vehicle in an Oldbury car park on suspicion of murder, has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Residents in Corngreaves Walk said they were shocked by the incident, especially as it happened to someone with a ‘heart of gold’.

Martin’s neighbour and close friend Gayle Whittle, a community carer, said life would never be the same for her.

“I am devastated,” she said. “Martin was such a wicked person, a brilliant friend and we loved to have a laugh together.

“All of us in the street are wondering why this would have happened to him. He was one of the nicest people you could meet, he had a heart of gold and wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of three separate assaults involving weapons, including a knife and metal bar, which happened from around 4pm on Sunday (November 12) in Dingle Avenue, West Avenue and Poplar Close.

None of the other victims received life threatening injuries and are understood to have known their attacker.

But officers believe the same attacker was responsible for Martin’s stabbing.

Gayle said: “I haven’t got a clue what happened. I was out at work at the time and when I came home to see all the police vans outside Martin’s flat and everyone out on the street my heart broke.

“When they told me what happened to him I was in complete shock. It has really knocked me about. I don’t feel safe living here anymore knowing what has happened just a few doors away.

“Everybody here loved Martin and he was the type of person who would always be there for you if you needed him.

“When I had an accident in my car he was the first person to come out to see how I was. I’m quite a nervous person but he looked after me, and basically took care of the whole situation.

“I just can’t believe that he’s gone. I miss him already. I couldn’t be any more grateful to have someone like him as a neighbour.”

Martin, a father-of-four, had lived on his own over the last few years with his rescue dog Elsa.