TRIBUTES have been paid to a “loveable pain in the neck” who was found dead after being stabbed in the back.

Carl Hopkins, 49, was found by a passerby in Ryegate Road, Colchester, on Monday and died of injuries to his lung.

Police have launched a murder investigation and are linking Mr Hopkins’ death to a stabbing in nearby George Street the night before.

Another man, who is 40, was hospitalised.

Andrew Whitten, 31, has known Mr Hopkins for 17 years and although circumstances meant they had spells apart - they had become close friends.

Mr Whitten said they were both sleeping rough in Colchester at the time of Mr Hopkins’ death and had chatted in the hours before he was attacked.

He said: “He was a loveable pain in the neck and we argued like cat and dog.

“But we were close and we had each other’s back.

“In our situation you need somebody you can trust 100 per cent.

“He was always there for me and I love him to bits.”

Mr Whitten admitted his friend had spent time in jail and battled with drink and drug problems.

But he said he had made huge efforts to turn his life around in the last few months where he had cut down on the booze and hard substances.

He added: “Carl had changed, he had lost that stern horrible side to him and he had lost it for the better.

“What is for sure is there will be a lot of people at his funeral because he was loved by a lot of people.

“He got on well with everyone.

“You won’t find people who have a bad word to say about him.

“He wanted to get housed and make an effort to build things up with his family.”

Mr Whitten, who started sleeping on the streets after a relationship broke down, said sleeping rough was difficult in Colchester.

He added: “It is dangerous. Last month I ended up with a black eye because someone just kicked me in the head out of the blue.

“I was sound asleep and someone pointed out who had done it and they were just running off.

“Things have got worse in the last couple of years.”

Mr Whitten added: “Justice needs to be done for Carl.”

Anyone with information about Mr Hopkins’ death should contact the North Major Crime team on 101 quoting incident 208 of Monday.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.