Tributes were paid to talented Nottingham and Derby tattoo artist Che Baldwin who was killed in a motorbike crash on 28 June, 2009.

Mr Baldwin, known to most people as ‘Sumo’, died after his bike was in collision with a car in Long Eaton. He was 30 years old.

He was well known among tattoo fans in both cities after working at several parlours over the last decade, including Dragon’s Lair in Sandiacre and, most recently, Bodycraft in Hockley.

Gisele Marriott, manager at Bodycraft, where he had worked for the last five years, said: “He will be sorely missed.

“He was a good friend to everyone as well as just our colleague, and he was a great tattooist.”

His former boss Paul Dickerson, owner of Dragon’s Lair, said: “He first started working here for me when he was about 19 or 20.

“He was a good kid, we had some good laughs.

“We used to have nights out on the beer, and he’d come in here the next day and I used to have to tell him to grab a bench and go to sleep!

“He put on a front that he was a bit of a hard lad, but he wasn’t, he was a big softie.

“He liked his partying.”

As well as tattoos, Mr Baldwin, of Sandiacre, was passionate about motorbikes and was a regular at biker’s club MFN in Eastwood on Wednesday nights.

Mr Dickerson said: “Tattoos and bikes were his two big things. He was really in to building bikes.”

He was also a regular at The Old Angel in Stoney Street, Hockley.

A member of staff there, who did not want to be named, said: “We all loved him like a brother, it’s very sad. He will be greatly missed.”

Another close friend of his, who did not want to be named, said: “He has left a huge hole in our hearts and will be greatly missed by many, and with those who are lucky enough to have had his artwork his memory will live on.”

Jynx of Nottingham added a tribute on the internet saying: “Sumo you were a great guy, you looked out for me and were unforgettable. Thank you for all you did. God Bless XX .”

Andy Dee of Wolverhampton, wrote: “I was Sumo's last tattoo on Saturday, and possibly his last tattoo ever, it will be a long time before I can bring myself to get it finished by someone else.

“R.I.P mate, you will be missed.”