Shock at arrest
NEIGHBOURS of both Mr Stephenson senior and his son, told of their shock at learning of the old man’s death, and his son’s subsequent arrest.
A 42-year-old man who has lived on the same street as Ralph and Mary Stephenson for more than 20 years said they were a lovely couple.
"They are a lovely family," he said. "He was a polite friendly man and they were a nice couple.
"He didn’t get out very often. He had been poorly for quite a long time. But he used to be very keen on his garden and he used to have an Alsatian dog that he used to walk all the time. But as he got older his mobility got worse, and I used to see him walking about with a stick. But I hadn’t seen him for a number of weeks
"Mary used to go out with her son quite often. He would come to visit at least once a fortnight. My wife knows Mary very well. They have got two grandchildren around the same age as my children and they used to give us all their children’s old clothes."
And the father was stunned when he heard Ralph Stephenson junior had been arrested. "It’s such a shock," he said. "I can’t believe it. He was always very quiet."
Lily Watson, 67, who lives next door to Ralph Stephenson junior, his wife and two teenage daughters, on Tyne Road East, described the family as the perfect neighbours.
And she said Mr Stephenson junior had spoken of his worries for his ill father.
"They were a nice quite couple who kept themselves to themselves, I couldn’t have asked for better neighbours," she said. "I am very surprised he has been arrested."
