A Wolverhampton police officer described as a charmer with a passion for boxing, cars and motorbikes has died of a rare illness at the age of 52.

Mick Morris served with West Midlands Police in Bloxwich for 21 years before he died at New Cross Hospital on November 10. Mr Morris was a former professional middleweight boxer, who was once ranked number nine in the country. Jamaican-born Mr Morris was diagnosed with a condition that sees the immune system attack the body, which caused his major organs to fail.

He spent nine weeks in hospital before having to go back for another four weeks prior to his death.

He served as a traffic officer for a decade, trained children at Featherstone Kickboxing Club two or three days a week, and was a governor of Whitgreave Primary School until six years ago.

Mr Morris lived in Featherstone with wife Julie and their 18-year-old twins, Christopher and Rebecca.

Mr Morris had two daughters from a previous marriage – Michelle, 33, and Anna, 29 – and one grandson. He also leaves behind his parents, who live in Bushbury, and siblings Beverley, David and Marcia.

Mrs Morris first met her husband of 14 years in 1985, while she was working in NatWest, Queen Square, Wolverhampton.

“He was a security guard at the Mander Centre then, and he would come in with cash. Our eyes met across the counter,” said Mrs Morris, aged 47.

“He was a real charmer with a great sense of humour. He was a bit of a flirt and charmed all the nurses in hospital.

“The people in the cardiology ward were brilliant. They got quite attached to him. I can’t praise them enough.”

Mrs Morris said boxing was his passion, as well as cars and motorbikes, and he never missed TV’s Top Gear.