Melanie Brook

I first learned of Jeremy Bamber when I saw him on the news a couple of years ago. At the time of the tragedies I was only 10 years old, and so I knew nothing of him. My curiosity got the better of me, and 3 hours later I was still trawling the internet, reading the facts from the website, the lies in the press, and the gossip from the haters, and becoming increasingly more incensed that something like this could happen in an apparently civilised society!

I didn't sleep that night. The information that I had read was swirling round and round in my mind, and I couldn't think of anything else. I kept thinking that I must have missed something - that surely somewhere there must be at least just one single piece of evidence that meant that the right person was in jail. But no matter how hard I searched, I never found that one piece of evidence - and I quickly realised that it just didn't exist.

Strangely, the next day the Crime and Investigation Network showed a re-run of the "Crimes that Shook Britain" documentary - which I watched, and recorded, and watched again.......and again! After seeing it, it didn't take me long to pluck up the courage to write to Jeremy and offer my support. I didn't expect a response - but was surprised just a few days later to receive a cheery letter back, and there started a friendship that has grown and grown.

There are times when I am plodding on with the normal day to day drudgery of life, or getting angry and impatient standing in the queue at Asda and I think about Jeremy and his years of lost liberty, and I feel terribly guilty. I think about how he would give anything to be there in that queue leading a normal life - and I thank my lucky stars. I say a little thank you for the family that I have - because Jeremy would do anything to have his family back. I say a little thank you for the miracle that is my child - because Jeremy never had the opportunity to have a child of his own. I feel humbled that despite having all of this taken away from him he still remains positive. He never moans, he never plays the "woe is me" card, he just carries on tirelessly and continues to fight.

I am often surprised that despite everything that he has been, and continues to go through, that Jeremy always remains so upbeat and positive. Its a testament to his amazing and admirable strength of character, and I'm sure that his family are looking down and are proud of the way he has conducted himself. I know that if I was in his shoes I would have folded and fallen apart a long time ago and I wish I could take a leaf out of his book sometimes.

Jeremy's friends are important to him as he has no family, and as such he takes a keen interest in all his friends lives. He is kind, considerate, thoughtful and caring. He always asks about me and my family, he always remembers birthdays and special occasions, he's a great listener and gives good advice - and sometimes he just makes me laugh so hard that I can't breathe.

I'm not the cleverest person, I don't have any knowledge or skills with how the law works but I have never been more convinced of anything than I am of Jeremy's innocence and as such will help him in anyway I can. I will continue to shout about his plight from the rooftops, and fight for him until he walks free. I know his day is coming, and he will get his life back soon. And I for one will be right there at the front, cheering him on every step of the way.