Father's anger as murderer of his South Tyneside daughter is set to be freed

Anthony Davison has served 27 years behind bars after he admitted strangling 23-year-old former partner Marie Hines at her home in Salem Street, Jarrow, in June 1992.

Her father, David Hines, who has since become a national campaigner for greater victims’ right, says he has now been told that Davison is due to be freed shortly.

Mr Hines, 71, travelled down to Gloucestershire in December last year to plead for the murderer to kept in prison.

But he says his efforts at the Parole Board hearing have failed and that Davison will be freed on an as yet undisclosed date from Leyhill Prison, in Gloucestershire.

Mr Hines, who founded the North East Victims’ Association, said: "I think it's a disgrace. I don't think he should be entitled to a life. He will only be 50-odd now.

"The whole system is geared up to help him. Why should victims have to fight?

"You just want peace and quiet and you never get it."

Mr Hines used expertise built up from decades of helping victims of crimes and their families fight similar battles.

He added: "I tried to empathise that he was kidding people and conning people but they just weren't listening to me.

"Then two weeks later I got the notification that he's going to be released.

"Even with everything I know it didn't make any difference and I'm one of the most knowledgeable people on the system."

While he says Davison will be banned from returning to South Tyneside, Mr Hines is still fighting for the terms of the strangler’s release to be toughened, adding: “I would like to keep him out all of the North East.

"I have been refused a recent photo. He knows what I look like but I'm not allowed to know what he looks like. How can that be fair?

“I am in the dark here. I will be looking over my shoulder all the time."

The North East Victims’ Association eventually became the National Victims’ Association, holding a free conference in South Shields every year, before folding last year following funding cuts.

Mr Hines is still campaigning for individual Parole Board members to made accountable for their actions in the event of offenders committing further crimes after their release.