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Sunshine start to a new life

14/11/2007

AS THE sun steamed through the window of their King Street house Stefan Kiszko reflected on his first few days of freedom and the end of his 16-year ordeal.

In April 1992 he was finally able to go home following a spell in Prestwich Hospital.

As he looked towards the future he said: “I have to get on with my life and try to enjoy it. At least I’m only 40.

“Everyone has been smashing around here.

“All the neighbours have welcomed me and they have all said they knew I was innocent.

“What a funny feeling it was when I walked into the corner shop. I must get used to all that again now.”

Looking back at his time in prison Stefan said: “It felt terrible, really weird to have my freedom taken away.

“No words can describe by despair at the time.”

A life of fear began as soon as he arrived at Wakefield Prison after his conviction.

In August 1976 he was attacked by six inmates and as a result couldn’t walk for six weeks. The following May he needed 17 stitches in a head wound after being attacked with a mop handle.

Stefan said: “Then there were all the jibes and insults that I had to put up with. It was a nightmare.  But the mental pain was much harder to take. It was worse than the physical torment.

“But I never gave up hope. I just kept clutching at short and long straws.”

He was locked up with prisoners who had been convicted of the same offences as him, saying; “I didn’t make any friends in there. I somehow had to exist with them.”

Religion had helped him to keep going inside.

Mother Charlotte was a regular visitor, but while she was always a welcome presence it only added to his pain.

He explained: “Seeing her there in prison and then watching her leave after we had talked was horrible.”