UNTIL two months ago Jan Jordon and her daughter Derin had lived in Wensom Drive in Didcot.

Their bodies were discovered with that of Derin’s 44-year-old father, Philip Howard, at their new home in Vicarage Road, Didcot, by police on Saturday.

A former colleague of Mr Howard yesterday said he was a “gentleman” with a sense of humour.

David Horton-McGlone, of Wensum Drive, said he had worked with Mr Howard in 2007 and 2008 in Sainsbury’s Didcot.

He added: “It was a big shock to find out he had died and I was very sorry to hear it.”

Ms Jordon’s former landlady, who asked not to be named, said she had rented Ms Jordon and Derin’s previous home to them between April 2010 and March this year.

She said six-year-old Derin was Ms Jordon and Mr Howard’s daughter.

The landlady said Ms Jordon had suffered personal problems “but it was Phil who helped her get over them and they had lived together, when she was pregnant with Dezzy. They [later] broke up and she moved out, but he still used to come and visit Dezzy and would also help out around the house.”

She said Mr Allen had come to live with Ms Jordon and her daughter after his 18th birthday, having previously lived with his father.

Speaking of Jed, the landlady said: “I only ever heard one negative thing about him and that was when he punched a hole in the kitchen door.

“Jan said he had been angry but didn’t say more than that.”