THE father and brother of a disabled man who was beaten to death behind a town-centre pub were reunited yesterday for the first time in almost 40 years.

Stephen Humphries' grief-stricken father, Eddie, and brother, Colin - who had not seen each other since 1969 - paid tribute to the popular Manchester United fan who "would never dream of hurting a fly" - but who was found dead in a Darlington alley.

The two brothers - along with their other brother, Michael, and sister, Pamela - were taken into care as babies, and lost touch.

Stephen and his father had lost touch, although he lived with him briefly several years ago before moving to Darlington. Colin rediscovered Stephen, 53, two years ago, and he became "part of the family" with Colin's wife, Joelle, and their five-year-old daughter, Chloe.

He shared their Oxfordshire home for a while, before returning to sheltered accommodation in Yarm Road, Darlington.

Mr Humphries was well-known around the town, and was a regular in several pubs. He used to work as a glass collector in Hogans bar, on Victoria Road, and had recently joined Riley's Snooker Club.

Mr Humphries, who had severe learning difficulties that left him unable to read or write, returned to the town less than three weeks before his badly-beaten body was discovered behind the Nags Head pub last Thursday night. A post-mortem examination found he died from severe head injuries.

Yesterday, his relatives joined friends from Chilton Group Care Home, where he lived as a youngster, to pay their tributes.

Fighting back tears, Colin told The Northern Echo how happy memories of his brother and reunion with his father were helping him cope with the "indescribable shock".

"We can't really comprehend what has happened," he said. Stephen was a loveable man, so friendly, warm and gentle. You couldn't not like him, he was just too nice for anyone not to.

"He loved Manchester United. I got him a watch and wallet when he was with us, which he loved. His Man United cup is still in our cupboard.

"He came down from Darlington to see us and basically ripped his bus ticket up and stayed. He was happy he had found someone he could say was his own, and he loved Chloe.

"He had been in care for years, most of his life in fact, and had his own space in Darlington, his own key, a bit of independence.

"He'd never really known family life, so he went back. We thought he'd be safe there, which seems quite ironic now."

Joelle said: "I just keep bursting into tears, we are just so shocked. I haven't told Chloe the full story - how can you?"

Mr Humphries' devastated father, Eddie, 75, who has suffered from severe ill health, said he could not come to terms with events.

"We all loved Stephen very dearly, which he knew, and can't really take in what's happened," he said.

Friends from Stephen's childhood also paid tribute.

Brian Sowerby, who was nine when he lived in the Chilton care home with Mr Humphries, said: "Although I haven't seen him for a lot of years, I used to be very close to him, he was very well-liked. We called him Uncle Fester - he loved The Addams Family.

"Stephen was harmless - as strong as an ox, but totally harmless. I really am dumbfounded by what has happened, and my thoughts are with his family."

* A 17-year-old youth from Darlington has been charged with Mr Humphries' murder. The youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, will appear before Teesside Crown Court today.