THE grieving daughter of a man found murdered in his home today made an emotional appeal for help in bringing his killer to justice.

Speaking almost a month after David Wilson’s body was found at an address in Southwick Road, Sunderland, Tara Wilson, 26 said: “My father was loved by everyone. You couldn’t not love him.

“I can’t understand why someone would take him from us like they have done.

“It’s heartbreaking. I felt like I’ve been punched in the stomach.It doesn’t feel real at all.”

A murder investigation was launched when 49-year-old Mr Wilson was found dead on Sunday, December 14. A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed.

Miss Wilson was joined at press conference at Southwick Police Station by her uncle Ian, Mr Wilson's brother.

Police urged people to come forward to help with the investigation.

Mr Wilson described his brother as a "gentle giant".

He said: "I can't think of anyone who would want to harm David. He was well liked in the community. We can't understand as a family why this has happened.

“If there anyone with information, no matter how small it is, it could help the police.

“There must have been someone in the area around about that time who heard or saw something.”

Mr Wilson said his brother, who grew up in Hetton-le-Hole, had been a special constable when he was younger.

Over the years he was assistant manager at the Milburngate shopping centre in Durham City and a ticket supervisor on the railways.

Detectives are particularly keen to speak to witnesses to an alleged cashpoint robbery which took place shortly after 4am on December 14.

Police received a report from a man saying he had been robbed near to the Post Office cash machine in Southwick Green at 4.20am.

CCTV footage from the area shows the victim and another person at the ATM at around 4:10am. Officers have released CCTV footage of this person and are appealing for him to come forward.

Anyone with information can call Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191 quoting reference number 583 14/12/14 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.