A CLOSE friend of a man found dead in his garage has spoken of her grief for her loving partner.

The 51-year-old woman met John Wilson in the spring while both were being treated at St Clements Hospital, in Foxhall Road, Ipswich.

“We met at the end of March, he had taken an overdose,” said the woman, who asked not to be named.

“We found that we had a lot in common and it just flourished there.”

Mr Wilson, 57, of Pearson Road, Ipswich, went missing on November 1 and a major police hunt ensued.

His partner, who lives in Woodbridge, said: “I was the one who reported him missing. He left my house on the Monday morning and I spoke to him when he arrived home.

“He explained he was feeling very depressed, he said he had been through so much over the years. He was a broken man.”

Desperately trying to reassure him, the woman offered words of advice but when he did not respond, she contacted police.

Mr Wilson’s body was found in van parked inside a lock-up garage behind houses in neighbouring Heath Lane on Saturday morning.

Neighbours reported hearing screams the previous evening.

The mechanic ran his own business from the garage, according to his partner.

“He worked hard and he would help anyone. He was a very caring person, he cared about a lot of people and had many friends.

“He was a gentleman but he had had a terrible time.”

Mr Wilson leaves two sons.

An inquest is due to be opened once a post mortem has been completed.