THE brother of a missing man who was found dead has said his world “will never be the same” after the tragic news.
Tom Jennings from Portslade had not been seen since Thursday morning after being spotted on CCTV leaving a bus in Western Road in Hove.
Yesterday, police responded to reports of a body being discovered outside a basement flat in Norfolk Square just before 12.50pm, and confirmed it was the 27-year-old.
READ MORE: Family thank those who helped search for Tom Jennings
Writing on Facebook yesterday, Tom’s brother Dexter said: “Today we received the worst news ever and our world will never be the same.
“Tom has been found dead in the basement of an unused flat.
“Our hearts are broken.”
Police launched a desperate search for Tom over the weekend and issued a series of public appeals for help in tracking him down.
A first missing person appeal was released by police on Saturday, and it was believed Tom had been travelling by bus on his way to the B&Q store in Brighton Road, Shoreham.
His mother, Sarah Jennings, urged people in Brighton and Hove and the surrounding area to look out for him, and said his disappearance was “completely out of character.”
She said: “He is a very vulnerable young adult and has been missing important medication for two days now so may be slurring or sleepy.
“He got on a bus in Mile Oak on Thursday morning at 9am-ish to buy a drill from B&Q in Shoreham.
“(He) called from the bus to ask where B&Q was and we haven’t heard from him since. He had taken absolutely nothing with him apart from money for the drill.
“Please check outbuildings and corners. He would be susceptible to start talking to strangers so could be with others.”
Following news of his death, Tom’s family issued a statement.
It read: “We are absolutely devastated by the outcome.
“We would like to thank everyone who has helped us search for our loving son.”
Sussex Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Tom’s death.
A force spokeswoman said: “We are urging anyone with information to contact us online or alternatively to call 101 quoting serial 262 of 04/03.”
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