The grieving mother of Black Country murder victim Thomas Coombs Duffield today described her son as a “diamond.”

The 20-year-old, who was known as Duffy, died in Sandwell Hospital in the early hours of Friday  after being stabbed in Bustleholme Avenue, Charlemont Farm, West Bromwich.

Sarah Duffield described the knife attack victim as “our very own priceless diamond, irreplaceable and ours.”

She said her son, who was about to become a father, was “loved by everyone he knew”.

The distraught mother also revealed that Mr Duffield’s girlfriend Steph will name their baby after him in tribute. 

“My son Thomas was a fantastic lad, he was loved by everyone he knew,” she said. “He was due to be a daddy and was very excited at the idea of this.  We are all distraught and trying to come to terms with the fact he is not coming back to us.”

She added: “If I had to describe my son in a word, it would have to be diamond – our very own priceless diamond, irreplaceable and ours. 

“We love you son, Steph loves you so much, but we will look after her and baby Thomas.”

His former teachers at Wednesbury’s Manor Foundation School have also remembered Mr Duffield.

Headteacher Miriam Mole said: “When I first started at the school he was one of the first pupils I met. He was friendly, very popular and had a great sense of humour.”

She added: “He was a very good artist and had a close bond with our art teacher. I remember him very proudly bring some of his art work to show me and it was really very good.

“We heard about it on Friday and when we realised it was Tom all the staff were very upset. You hear about these stabbings happening in London but this is just a bit too close to home. It’s such a waste of a young life.”

Yesterday 21-year-old Christopher Szymanski, of Beaconview Road, West Bromwich, appeared before the town magistrates court charged with murder.

He was remanded in custody and will next appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court in October.

Police carrying out a fingertip search of the area discovered a silver lock knife, discarded between garages close to the scene.