A HEARTBROKEN brother has paid an emotional tribute to an East Lancashire man who has died aged 36.

And Donnie Demetriou said Nick Rushton, who was from the Rossendale area, may have taken his own life because he never recovered from the brutal murder of their mum by their jealous father 28 years ago.

He said dad-of-three Mr Rushton was tormented by a wish that he could have done more to save his mother, even though he was just eight at the time of the killing.

He was found dead by his girlfriend at his new home in Shepshed, Leicestershire, on September 4 after apparently filling his bedroom with deadly carbon monoxide gas.

He was clutching a picture of his six-year-old son.

As well as struggling for most of his life with the memories of his mum’s death, Mr Rushton - who used his mother’s maiden name - was also in debt and under threat of having his home repossessed, his brother said.

Donnie, 30, of Woodside Crescent, Newchurch, said: “What happened with my mum and the fact that they were taking his home was too much for him.”

Mr Rushton grew up with Donnie and their elder brother Miros, now 37, in a foster home in Foster Street, Clayton-le-Moors, after the death of their mum.

Mr Rushton, a mechanic, lived for much of his life in the Rossendale area before starting a new life in Leicestershire only two years ago with his partner Louise Treanor, 28, and six-year-old son.

However, debts run up while working as a HGV driver had caught up with him and the worries, combined with his mother’s murder in 1980, took their toll.

Mr Rushton was just eight when his Cypriot father, Nicos Demetriou, stabbed his mum Doreen to death at a women’s care home in Police Street, Darwen.

Demetriou later admitted the murder and was jailed for life.

He died several years ago after being deported back to Cyprus.

However, Donnie said his tortured brother could never escape the memories of the murder.

He said: “He had taken a lot of punishment from my dad and it had even put him in hospital.

“My brother grew up to be a very private person.

"He did not like meeting people and he did not talk about what happened with my mum.“ Donnie said he hoped friends and family would remember Mr Rushton as the caring brother and father he was.

He said: “The best thing about him is that he would do anything to ensure that nobody got hurt.

“He was dedicated to others more than he was dedicated to himself - he had time for everyone.

“This whole thing was caused by my dad, what he did and the guilt Nick felt over it. He could not vent his guilt or his frustration.

“I will just remember that he was so good to me. He was always there.”

Mr Rushton’s funeral will be held tomorrow at Burnley Crematorium.

Family flowers and donations to Fred Hamer Funeral Service, James Street, Rawtenstall.