'Our immense loss': Wife pays tribute to man murdered outside pub

Adam Lovatt died on May 25 after police were called to the Bridge Inn in Shropshire Street, Audlem, near Market Drayton..

Officers found him with serious injuries and he was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital where he died.

Two people from Shrewsbury are among those who were arrested in connection with the death, which police are treating as murder.

Mr Lovatt leaves his wife, Clare, his two step sons Jordan and Declan, his parents Maria and Jeff and his brothers Mark and Darren.

His wife Clare said: “I would like to thank everyone in Audlem for their overwhelming support since Adam passed away. We have been truly touched by everyone’s compassion and empathy which has been incredibly comforting while we try to deal with our immense loss.

“Adam and I loved Audlem. We had our first date here, eight years ago, got engaged and later married in this beautiful village. We were thrilled to move here 18 months ago and reopen the Finefoodies deli.

“This was our forever home and we were going to grow old here. We both worked, Adam as a national account manager at Bookers Retail, as well as running the deli. He has very much put his stamp on this place and we have got to try and keep it going. His legacy is here. I’m still talking to him because he is here. I still feel like he is here.

“Adam loved cooking, Manchester United, Lewis Hamilton and the Grand Prix. He asked for B&Q vouchers for his birthday and he had already started to make a plan of what tools he was going to get and jobs he was going to do around the house and in his workshop and garden.

“He came into our lives and gave us eight years but this felt like so much more. He changed our lives for the better. He was our rock.

“He was an extremely loving father, son and brother as well as a fantastic husband. I am desperately sad for our children, Adam’s parents and his brothers and their families. We have all lost someone amazing.”

Four people have been arrested in connection with his death. A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and released on police bail. A 34-year-old man has also been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released under investigation.

A 44-year-old man from Shrewsbury has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and a 58-year-old woman from Shrewsbury has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both have been released under investigation.

Detective Inspector Adam Waller said: “I would like to urge anyone who witnessed any part of the incident on the night to come forward and speak to us. We know that people who were at the scene haven’t come forward yet and we are making efforts to identify those potential witnesses.

"We are investigating Adam’s death as a murder inquiry and it is vital that everyone who was there on the evening speaks to detectives."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting IML 73945. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org