Gary Thompson was a member of a former North-East Family of the Year. He was one of six siblings adopted by Norman and Ruth Thompson, of Blackhill, Consett.

And in 1993, the “T Troop”, as they called themselves, reached the national finals of the Barclays Life Family of the Year contest.

But yesterday, Mrs Thompson told Newcastle Crown Court of her heartache at how her devoted son had turned killer.

“No mother would approve of what he has done,” she said. “No mother wants their son to be classed as a murderer.

“But I understand what led him to it because I have seen my son in some horrendous states.”

Mrs Thompson said Gillian Raine, the mother of his former girlfriend, Pamela, had made his life a nightmare.

“He felt Gillian was stopping them being together as a couple. He thinks she wanted full control."

Thompson, now 25, was adopted along with his five brother and sisters when he about four.

The Thompsons decided to adopt a ready-made family of a boy and a girl after watching the adoption programme Find a Family on television.

Speaking at the time of their award, a Barclays Life spokesman said: “I will never forget my visit to the Thompson family. There was so much warmth and caring.

They are a remarkable family.”

The court heard how all of the siblings suffer from learning difficulties, but remain supportive of Thompson and write to him in prison.

Mrs Thompson said: “He is a huge part of the family and he adores his brothers and sisters.’ He went to St Bede’s School, in Lanchester, before studying at New College Durham, where he met Pamela.

Mrs Thompson said Mrs Raine had stopped him from seeing his own family and was not welcome at her house because she had stood up to her.

Some of Mrs Thompson’s comments were met with scornful laughter by Mrs Raine’s family in the public gallery. After the hearing, they said they were disappointed with the sentence that could see Thompson a free man by the time he is 42.

Mrs Raine’s sister, Joanne Stokoe, said: “My sister never gets her life back, why should he? The world doesn’t seem right anymore.

"I miss her so much. On January 24, I woke up in a nightmare and it has not stopped.”

Mrs Raine’s ex-husband, Pamela’s father, Gary Raine said he hoped Thompson rots in prison and never gets out.

He said: “Attacking a defenceless lady using the weapons he did was an act of savage cruelty. He is lowest form of life to crawl God’s earth.

“We are all left in shock and horror at her murder. He has ripped so many lives apart. We hate this excuse of a man.”