CRASH victim Nathan Cox’s aunt Alison Little has spoken of her devastation at the loss of the young man she looked on as a son.

She said: “Even though he was my nephew, he was a major part of the family.

I looked on him as my son and Aaron [Nathan’s cousin] looked on him like his brother.”

Nathan, 20, of Trowbridge, was raised in Hilperton and had known Jordan Taylor, 20, and Chad McVeigh, 18, since they were young children.

They attended school together at Staverton Primary and later at John of Gaunt School.

She said the family have now realised how much Nathan, who lived alone and walked his beloved dog Leo daily, had taught them without even realising it.

Mrs Little said: “Nathan learned a lot about life from my husband Jamie and I think he indirectly learnt a lot from Nathan without realising it.”

Aaron Latchem, 27, also paid tribute to his ‘brother’ on Facebook: “Missing you like crazy my little bro. I would give anything for another minute with you. I love you so much and I hope you knew that even though I found it hard showing my emotion and feelings. I’ve learnt a lot from you and never realised it, my life will be an uphill struggle without you.”

The family has received countless letters and cards from friends and neighbours offering their condolences, many talking about Nathan’s family-orientated personality.

Mrs Little said: “Nathan was just an old man in a young person’s body. He was old fashioned and was so respectful to older people, and was brilliant with kids.”

He showed his loving side to his sister, Lisa and his nephew Darcey who lived locally to him.

Nathan also had a strong bond with his Nan, Susan Sherman and he has been described as “her grandson, son and best friend rolled into one.”

Alison said: “His friends used to take the p*** out of him because he would rather spend a night in with his Nan than go out.”

Mrs Little added: “He always wanted to help out. He could turn a jungle of a garden into a paradise and he did all our gardens and was just brilliant at it.”

Nathan was also described as someone who always took pride in the way he dressed.

Mrs Little and Nathan had talked about the importance of road safety just hours before the fatal crash after seeing the Wiltshire Times’ coverage of Melksham teenager Max Lewis’ death last month.

Mrs Little said: “I think that’s why Nathan must have got into the back of the car on Friday night because he listened to what I had said, it was unusual for him not to sit in the passenger seat.”

She and husband Jamie, along with sons Aaron and Joe, have been overwhelmed by the floral tributes left at the crash site.

“The roadside tributes bring you a bit of comfort that people have loved him and people say the same thing, that he was a nice boy,” she said.

Nathan had even wrapped and gift-tagged all his families’ presents and he had planned to spend Christmas with his entire family.

Mrs Little added: “The one thing that is getting us through is that Nathan would pick people up and he would want us to find the positive in everything.

“We are just going to miss his energy, his love, his banter and his humour.”