A HAMPSHIRE woman who has been fighting for her brother to be released from an Indian jail has been given the perfect Christmas present - his freedom.
Charity worker Ian Stillman, who is profoundly deaf, has one leg and suffers from diabetes, was given a ten-year jail sentence two years ago for an alleged drug-trafficking crime which he has always denied.
But after a determined battle by sister Elspeth Dugdale and his family, friends, fellow charity workers and Romsey MP Sandra Gidley, Mr Stillman walked free from the advancing bitter cold of winter in the Himalayan foothills at 1.30pm British time on Saturday.
Outside the jail Mr Stillman was greeted by his wife Sue, son Lennie, 23, daughter Anita, 20, and his brother-in-law Jerry Dugdale from Braishfield, near Romsey, who have spent the last three weeks in India fighting for his freedom.
It was the latest of many such trips made by Mr Dugdale and other members of Mr Stillman's family and now they are delighted to be bringing him home.
He is expected to be back on British soil on Friday morning.
As the dedicated charity worker began his journey south to Delhi, Elspeth and her children Jake, 11, Grace, ten, and Jesse, eight, were jubilantly making cakes, presents and a 'Welcome Home' banner.
More on this story in tonight's Daily Echo
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