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 almost eight months for assaulting 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.

"He was a fun-loving, kind, warm-hearted family man who loved his kids so much" - Scotty Glover

“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.”

In November last year, Mr Johnson, formerly of Speldhurst Close, off Stanhope Road, admitted stealing cash from his father, damaging property and burgling the family home. He was described during the court hearing as a drug addict. He was jailed for a total of two years and four months.