TRIBUTE was paid this week to a caring father, husband, brother and son who was found hanged in his cell.

Thomas Curtis, 29, of Elm, was found in his cell at Norwich Prison on the morning of January 2.

He was released from prison last summer after serving five years of a 12-year jail term for a string of ATM raids and violent robberies across East Anglia. He was recalled to prison on suspicion of breaching the terms of his release.

Known as Tom to family and friends, he leaves behind parents Jock and Betty, brothers John and Rocky, sister Lizellen, widow Edna and sons Tom-Lewis, aged eight, and Alfie, aged two.

His funeral was held yesterday at Elm Parish Church.

This week widow Edna spoke warmly of the man who had turned his life around while serving his sentence at North Sea Camp, near Boston.

She said: “Words cannot describe what the family is going through. Tom was the heart and soul of the family, our rock. He was a very good dad to his two children.

“I have a massive folder at home of certificates he achieved in prison that we are very proud of.

“He worked at an old people’s home in Boston while serving his time. He got on with everybody there and if any job needed doing he was the one who did it. Everybody there liked him.

“After leaving prison he worked at Hot Wheels in Emneth.”

Referring to our story last week about Tom’s death, his sister Lizellen said: “Tom may have served a sentence for a crime and serve it he has. He was only human and we all make mistakes.

“You couldn’t ask for a better brother and we feel he should be remembered for the positives, not just the negatives.”