“He was in pieces and was at his mate’s house. He said there had been an accident and the police had his car.

“He burst into tears when he saw me. He was always impeccably dressed, but when I got there he was covered in dirt. He had crawled through fences when he ran from the car and jumped on a train to get home.

“He was pale white and shaking. I went with him to the police station and the rest is history.

“But I will not rest until I get justice for him because he is no murderer.”

Vance, a 49-year-old building site manager, revealed his son, who turned 21 while he was in custody, became engaged to his girlfriend while he was in prison.

And he spoke of the impact the case had had on his 17-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son.

He said: “My daughter is inconsolable. She is meant to be doing her A-Levels this week.

“And my other son has had threats, abuse on the internet and we have had hate mail and people pulling up outside the house.