Neighbours' tribute to generous Jason found dead in Walsall

Jason Whitehouse, from Willenhall, went missing last year after walking out of Walsall Manor Hospital where he had been receiving treatment.

The 43-year-old's body was found near to Sneyd Brook in Primley Avenue Park on May 12.

The news of his death has been met with shock and sadness by residents around his former home in Elm Street.

Neighbour Kulwinder Kaur, aged 30, said Mr Whitehouse was a generous man who would always go out of his way to help her and her young child.

"He was a good neighbour," said Ms Kaur, a single parent who suffers from arthritis.

"Because of my illness I need a lot of support and Jason would always offer to help. He would clear my garden for me and sort out the bins.

"He never asked for anything in return. I would offer to pay him and he would always refuse. He did things out of the goodness of his heart.

"It's just terrible what has happened. I'm in shock. I was hoping he would be found alive and well. I wanted him to be ok."

It is believed Mr Whitehouse had lived in the street since the mid-1990s and had three grown up children.

Other neighbours described Mr Whitehouse as a 'kind man' who was regularly seen walking his dogs around the streets of Willenhall.

"He was a class bloke," said Rhys Mason, aged 19.

"Anything anyone wanted doing he would be the first person to offer help. It was a big shock when we heard he had gone missing. Everyone was used to seeing him around.

"He had been gone for such a long time that you start to expect the worst, but it really hit me when I heard his body had been found.

"I grew up with his son, Luke, and I know it will be hard for him."

A post-mortem was conducted earlier this week which proved inconclusive, but police say they are not treating the death as suspicious.

The case has now been passed on to the coroner.

Mr Whitehouse's family has been informed and are receiving support.

Police put out an appeal to try and trace the whereabouts of Mr Whitehouse after he went missing on August 21 last year.