FAMILY tributes have been paid to the police officer who died when his car smashed into a Highcliffe bungalow early last Sunday.

DC Ian Morton, who lived at New Milton, was on his way to play a role in an armed police raid when his Skoda crashed out of control into a bedroom where Peter Tanswell lay sleeping.

Miraculously Mr Tanswell, 80, of Lymington Road, escaped virtually uninjured.

But 32-year-old DC Morton died at the scene.

In a statement issued by Dorset Police, his family said: “He will be remembered with warmth, respect and pride by all who knew him.

“A commended police officer who cared passionately about his job and the community he served, as well as his family and friends.

“He leaves behind his parents Ron and Marie, his sister Sharon, and his partner Elaine as well as many family members, friends and colleagues who will remember him with affection.”

He had a keen sense of humour, was a Saints supporter, had played football for Lake and Newchurch when he was a teenager, was a member of the Sea Scouts and was an active fundraiser for pilgrimage trust HCPT.

DC Morton grew up in Sandown and Shanklin on the Isle of Wight.

“Very much an island boy at heart, he loved walking the coastal paths with his dog Bracken and relaxing with his X-box games console,” the statement said.

He moved to the mainland to study geography and history at La Sante Union College in Southampton, graduating in 1998 with an honours degree.

In 2000 he realised a life-long ambition and joined Dorset Police.

He first served at Boscombe police station and then moved to Bournemouth Central in 2003 to work in the detained persons’ unit.

In 2005 he passed his sergeant’s examination and was an acting sergeant at Boscombe until he joined Bournemouth CID as a DC in January 2007.