THE mother and sisters of murder victim Adrian Munday have condemned his killer as a callous man who has left an irreplaceable hole in their lives.

Adrian’s twin sister Sarah Compton said she felt as if a physical lump of her had been taken away by the loss of her beloved brother, who she had helped to look after as a child.

His mother Mrs Michal Taylor revealed she was planning to visit him on the Monday after the weekend on which he was killed to try and find out what had happened to all the money which Hodgkin had stolen.

The family spoke on the steps of Exeter Crown Court after 41-year-old drifter Hodgkin was jailed for life for killing Adrian at his home in Wain Lain, Newton Abbot on the night of Saturday, October 3, last year.

Retired company director Mrs Taylor spoke of the family’s lifelong struggle to give Adrian the care and support he needed.

She said: ’He had a difficult birth as an undiagnosed twin but got over that and did quite well at school. He had mental health problems from really quite an early age and would panic if he was in crowds.

’He needed care for a very, very long time and worked through that and was finally living independently and was very proud of having got himself set up in his own home.

’He was enjoying life until the last three weeks when that man came along and changed everything. We did not see Adrian during that time. All he heard were phone calls asking for money.

’Adrian normally budgeted very well and each time he moved we worked out a budget for him. He did not need money and had quite generous benefits and was able to buy nice clothes for himself.

’It all went to pieces in those last two weeks when Hodgkin emptied his bank accounts and Adrian started selling things. We did not know anything about that until there were demands for money.

’Eventually I said I can’t do any more until I had looked into it, but he was killed before I had a chance to see him. I was going to see him on the Monday but he was killed over the weekend before that.

’It has been particularly hard for Adrian’s twin sister, who always felt responsible for him.’

Twin sister Sarah Compton said: ’Hodgkin was a really, really, horrible man and we all hoped so much the jury would see how horrible he was, and they did.

’For me this was like a physical loss as well as an emotional one. There was a physical lump of me taken out. I don’t know how to describe it. Until it happens to your own family you cannot imagine how awful it is.

’Hodgkin put us through the ordeal of a trial in which everything had to come out in the greatest detail. He did not have to do that. He could have saved us that torture but he was callous.’

Younger sister Georgia Munday said: ’It is important for us to know Hodgkin is going away and so nobody else will have to go through what we have.

’Adrian was so sweet, loving and kind and having him stolen away in such a dreadful way is beyond our comprehension.’