MOURNERS heard that a man was robbed of his life after spending almost three decades in prison for a murder he did not commit.

Sean Hodgson spent 27 behind bars for a murder he did not commit, but was freed in 2009 after advances in forensic science proved his innocence.

The 61-year-old, who was known as Graham to his family, died in Darlington Memorial Hospital, on Saturday after battling the progressive lung disease emphysema.

About 50 family and friends attended his funeral this afternoon at St Philip and St James Church, in Tow Law, County Durham.

Rev Jon Whalley told them much of his life had been robbed from him but he had managed to rekindle his love for the open air before his death.

“It has been very difficult at times but to those who knew him, Graham was just Graham,” he said. “He was a man of much courage.”

In 1982, Mr Hodgson, who grew up in Tow Law, was convicted of murdering barmaid Teresa de Simone after apparently confessing to the crime.

She was strangled and raped in her Ford Escort, which was parked outside a Southampton pub in 1979.

Mr Hodgson, who suffered from mental illness, proclaimed his innocence throughout his incarceration, which prevented him from being paroled.

When DNA evidence proved he was not guilty, the conviction was quashed at the Court of Appeal, in London in March 2009, and he was released.

Police went on to name Ms de Simone’s killer as David Lace, who took his own life in 1988.

Mr Hodgson, who went to Tow Law Junior School and Wolsingham School, was said to be a creative man who loved the outdoors and animals, in particular his Jack Russell Archie.

He had spoken to The Northern Echo about how he struggled to adapt to life on the outside, despite being awarded £1m compensation, and that he had turned to drink after securing his freedom.