TRIBUTES have been paid to a police sergeant who has died from coronavirus.

Sean Preston, a custody sergeant in Worthing, had been a police officer for 25 years.

He had been working from home for several months and was admitted to hospital at the beginning of January after contracting Covid-19.

The 50-year-old died yesterday, leaving behind his partner, children and grandchildren.

SEE ALSO: Sussex Police pay tribute after death of PC Doug Franks

His death was described as "a huge loss" to the force.

It comes after the death of another police constable, PC Doug Franks, earlier this week.

Daren Egan, chairman of the Sussex Police Federation, said: “It has been an incredibly difficult week for all the Sussex Police family with the loss of Sean and our colleague PC Doug Franks.

“We have lost two well thought of and much-loved characters who will be missed. The loss has been felt right across the force.

"We are doing our best to support colleagues who are having to carry on keeping the people of Sussex safe whilst mourning the loss of their friends.

“Our thoughts are with Doug and Sean’s families, their friends and their close colleagues at this tragic time.

"We will remember them.”

Donna Lonsdale, deputy chairwoman of Sussex Police Federation, said: “We are all devastated by the news of Sean’s passing.

"I had the pleasure of working with Sean in Brighton and know he will be missed by all of his colleagues.

“Sean really was a lovely guy - and when both Daren and I think of him, we do nothing but laugh.

"I can honestly say working with him was a pleasure and he is a huge loss to the police family.”