Stolen tribute to man killed in assault found

A stolen memorial to a man killed in an alleged assault in Hull city centre has been found.

The topper, knitted as tribute to Martin Chadburn, was taken from a postbox near where he lived in east Hull last week.

Following an appeal for its return by his family and friends, it was found abandoned in a nearby garden.

Close friend Lisa Goodwillie, who knew Chadburn since childhood, described receiving an "amazing phone call" saying it had been recovered.

"It brought a full load of emotions," she said.

"Because I think we'd set in our brains that it was never going to get found again."

Goodwillie said a woman discovered it in her back garden when she returned home from a two-week holiday and posted a message and photograph on social media.

"We are so relieved," she said.

"And as his friends and Martin's family, it's just such a relief that it's back with us."

The topper features his Army career and charity work as well as his love of camping in a minivan and took three weeks to make.

It was last seen on the postbox on Southcoates Lane on 31 May.

Goodwillie said the topper will be kept by Chadburn's sister until his funeral, when it will be placed on his gravestone during the ceremony.

Chadburn, 53, who was an employee of the Hull 4 Heroes charity, died in hospital following the incident in Queen Victoria Square on 19 April.

Three women and two men later appeared at Hull Crown Court charged with his murder.

No pleas were entered during the hearing and the defendants were remanded in custody ahead of another court appearance on 7 August.

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