A MAN wrongly jailed for nearly 30 years paid an emotional visit to the North-East to his parents’ graves on his release, it has emerged.

Robert Hodgson, known as Sean, was at the County Durham cemetery this month as his struggle adjusting to freedom continues.

He walked free from the Court of Appeal two months ago after DNA evidence quashed his 1982 conviction for the murder of Southampton barmaid Teresa de Simone, 22.

The 58-year-old returned to his former home town of Tow Law to pay his respects to parents, Jack and Olive.

He said: “It was a promise I made when they died while I was still in jail.

“I told them ‘I love you mum, dad’. And then I said that I was innocent all along.

They both knew that. They died broken-hearted.”

Speaking in a national newspaper, Mr Hodgson revealed he has been inundated by gold-diggers after the £1m compensation he could be awarded from the Home Office.

The money will be protected by law because Mr Hodgson, who suffers from depression and schizophrenia, has been deemed vulnerable and emotionally fragile.

He revealed he is no longer on good terms with “someone close” because he canot give the money away.

Although now taking prescribed medication, concerns remain for his wellbeing after he made a brief return to drug abuse in a “moment of madness”.

He was approached by a heroin dealer in London who knew him from the Seventies.

Mr Hodgson has resolved to put the lapse behind him, and fears the man is one of many trying to manipulate him.

He said: “They want me back on the drugs scene. The dealer knew I was going to come into money.

“I do not want to go back to drugs.”

His solicitor, Julian Young, said: “When Sean was freed, it was patently obvious that he was unable to deal with everyday things, let alone finances or a substantial sum of money.

“My fear was that people would try to gain access to his compensation, a fear now borne out.”

North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong is among those working to get him support.

Mr Hodgson, who is lodging in Notting Hill, London, said: “It has all changed.

“The whole world is faster and noisier. There are so many foreigners. It is confusing.”