MURDER victim Sergio Retamar Marquez only returned to Bournemouth a few months ago to escape financially crippled Spain.

Popular Sergio, 23, fruitlessly searched for jobs in his home country after a bike accident forced him to move back there last summer.

But the hard-working young waiter’s high hopes for a better life here ended in tragedy this week, when he was found decapitated at his Lansdowne flat.

Sergio’s home town of Coin, in Malaga, has been propelled into a state of shock.

His mother is in counselling following the loss of her only child, Mayor Fernando Fernandez Tapia-Ruano said.

He said: “The family is seeking justice because an event of this nature cannot go unpunished.”

A 29-year-old man arrested in Beechey Road shortly after 5pm on Tuesday has been bailed to a secure unit.

It is understood he has now been moved to an institution outside Dorset.

Sergio’s family – who are well known in Coin – describe him as gentle, friendly, humble and hard working.

The former United World School of English student moved back to England recently and found a job at the Britannia Hotel, on Meyrick Road.

Mourning family members, including his grandmother, uncles and cousins, hope his body will be repatriated early next week.

Coin town hall will then declare a period of mourning to allow residents to show their grief.

Sergio died from multiple stab wounds, it has been revealed, and a full inquest will be held at a later date.

Three bunches of flowers have been placed in his memory at the entrance to Lansdowne Mews.

His photo was tied to scaffolding with remains of the police tape with a message that read: “You will be sadly missed. Always in our hearts.”

His staff badge from Britannia Hotels had also been fixed to the photo.

Police yesterday moved the cordon back to the stairwell behind Downes Wine Bar which leads to the flats.