Murder case man celebrates birthday in freedom

Stephen Downing will tomorrow celebrate his first birthday with his family since he was jailed for murder 27 years ago.

Bachelor Stephen was just 17 when he was arrested for the 1973 murder of typist Wendy Sewell, in Bakewell, Derbyshire.

He languished in prison until his release last month on bail pending an appeal against the conviction, which he has consistently denied.

Tomorrow will be an emotional milestone as he marks his 45th birthday surrounded by his ever-supportive parents, Ray, 66, and Juanita, 67, near the family home in Bakewell.

It is also the birthday of his younger sister, Christine, who will be 42, and who promised never to marry until she saw her brother freed.

Taxi driver Ray Downing told reporters they planned a quiet day of celebrations: 'I asked Stephen if he wanted anything planned and he said he didn't. So I think we will go out as a family for a meal and a pint.

'I said did Stephen and Christine want us to organise any music and a party and to be honest their tastes are too different, Christine is into pop bands like Westlife and Stephen still prefers T-Rex.

'The last birthday we celebrated together was when he was 17, so it will be strange, but we have always treated each day just the same and that's the way we plan to go on.'

Meanwhile, Stephen is due to start work at a hotel in Bakewell as a pot washer, earning £4.15 an hour, despite the fact he could receive more than £1 million in compensation if, as expected, his appeal is successful.

According to Mr Downing, his son sees the job as temporary until he can pursue a career, possibility as a photographer.

'He wants to get back into society and this is his way of adjusting to his new life,' he said. 'He could have just sat back and collected benefits but he is not that sort of lad.

'It's a way of keeping himself occupied, but I think he wants a better job in the future. One of the things he has bought since he has been out is an expensive camera and you never know, he might become a photographer, perhaps even a press photographer - he's certainly come into contact with enough of them.'

Mr Downing said his son was angry that news of his job at the Rutland Arms Hotel in Bakewell had been disclosed because he was being paid more than other pot-washers in the kitchen.

'He doesn't want to be given preferential treatment and I can't say, but he may even walk out because of what has been printed,' said Mr Downing.

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