DAVID Stevenson looks every inch the highly-regarded soldier he once was. Six foot, one inches, burly with close-cropped, receding hair, he is well groomed and clean-shaven and he peppered his answers from the dock with "Yes, Sir," and "No Sir,".

With an older sister and his identical twin brother Richard, he grew up in Essex, going to school in Chelmsford.

Both boys were to join the Royal Air Force - Richard worked in Saudi Arabia and eventually settled in New Zealand while his brother transferred to the army.

Stevenson was a good soldier as an infantryman in the Royal Anglian Regiment.

He served in the first Gulf War and in Northern Ireland, where he was trained in specialist counter-terrorism techniques.

Col Murdo Salisbury-Urquhart, currently serving in Baghdad, had been his major during anti-terrorist operations in Northern Ireland in the early '90s.

He gave him a glowing character reference, saying how he vividly remembered him and referring to his calm, reliable and stable demeanour under the pressure from the IRA.

On his discharge from the forces, Stevenson gained the highest of five ratings - exemplary - and was described as having initiative and a dry sense of humour. Had he stayed, he would have been promoted, said the report.

Stevenson, 38, lived in Verwood with his wife Jan.

He worked as a carer in several nursing homes in the area.

One home even issued a statement to the Daily Echo when he was arrested saying he had been a good employee.

Stevenson had never come to police attention before this case.

It emerged at the trial that he was in the habit of visiting prostitutes, but this was a well-kept secret.

Stevenson walked out on his job as a carer at Oakdene Nursing Home in Three Legged Cross at the time of the murder.

He had consulted his Cranborne-based GP Bruce Willard over stress at work in late 2002.

Dr Willard also testified that his patient had been suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome - brought on by his service in Northern Ireland and the Gulf - and had seen a counsellor four times in April 2003.

First published: February 10