LOOKING at successful businessman Adrian Avery you would not believe his life had been hit by tragedy. But, 20 years ago - on February 3 1986 - the 42-year-old's world was turned upside down and shockwaves sent across Worcester after his 18-year-old sister Julia was brutally murdered at her Tunnel Hill home in the city as part of an insurance scam.

Her evil boyfriend Mitchell Robinson, then 26, got body builder and martial arts enthusiast Noell Brown - then of Belmont Street, Rainbow Hill - to strangle Julia for a promise of £40,000 in a bid to collect £153,000 life insurance.

Mr Avery, now general manager of logistics firm TNT on the Hartlebury Trading Estate, near Kidderminster - said he remembered vividly when the news was broken to him.

He said: "I was manager at the Co-Op in Worcester's Ombersley Road at the time and it was strange because I got straight back in my car and went back to work - it was like I was in denial.

"Someone came in late, saying sorry, but they had a cold and I just went mad and said 'you think you have problems, I've just found out my sister has been killed'.

"That was the kind of trigger to my mind to say it'd happened."

Brown, then 19, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life at Birmingham Crown Court in 1987. He was released eight years ago.

Robinson, a former bouncer at Worcester's Pavilion Nightclub, was convicted of murder and attempted murder and told he must serve a minimum of 20 years.

The court heard how Brown strangled Julia by using a martial arts hold, stripped her body to make it look like a sex attack and flung her downstairs.

Robinson was in custody on a robbery charge at the time, fixing himself up with the perfect alibi.

And the court was told how Robinson previously tried to kill Julia in a staged car crash, dragging the unconscious girl on to the road to break her neck, but was disturbed by a passing motorist.

But the conclusion of the trial did not end the pain for the family, with Adrian suffering horrible nightmares and turning to drink in a bid to cope.

It took him about a year to come to terms with what had happened but he said he was strong for his foster parents Olive and Bernard - who adopted him, Julia and sister Rosalind, moving to Worcester in 1979. He added that he made it his mission to live life to the full as a testament to Julia - joining TNT in 1989 and working his way through the ranks to his current position.

He also married Alison at Hallow Church - where Julia is buried - in 1996 and they have a five-year-old daughter, Holly, a pupil at Norton Primary School.

He said: "I got into a cycle where I was quite bad but then I thought, 'hold on a minute, how many lives is this going to destroy?'

"People always say 'how did you find the strength to get through it, but it really is an inner strength that comes about. It's a long time ago but it never goes away. As a testament to Julia I've always gained strength to say I'm not going to let it ruin my life and I'm hopefully a living memory to her."

Adrian said his parents now lived in fear of Robinson being released. They used to live in Malvern until about five years ago but moved to Derby because they were worried he might find them.

Adrian said he would never forgive Brown or Robinson for what they had done and that they should both have got the death penalty.

He added: "I remember Robinson had that smug look on his face when he was sentenced. I sat there in silence and when the judge said you'll serve a minimum of 20 years, it seemed quite good.

"However, here we are 20 years on and I'm feeling 'no way, it didn't fit the crime'.

"I think this is a very clear-cut case where the death penalty was the only appropriate penalty."

Mr Avery said one of the shocking aspects of the murder was that Julia's baby Sophie was asleep in the room next door at the time.

Sophie, now 22, is living with foster parents and Mr Avery said although he did not know where she was, he said often received letters from her parents - through Herefordshire Council - saying she was all right.

However, he said he hoped one day he might be able to meet her.

"In a way it'd be nice to see part of Julia again and try and explain to her what a lovely person she was. I think the worst thing about meeting her though would be trying to explain that her father planned her mother's murder - what kind of news is that to break to anyone?"