CAUGHT in a dilemma between the risk of an appeal and the silver lining of a release date, Kevin’s parents say the last five years have been utterly traumatic for them.

Gerald and Marie, who live in Stratton, have been funneling money to the couple in San Mateo for half a decade to help buy toiletries and medication, but they can no longer sustain the expense.

After news of the guilty verdict filtered back home, Gerald said they were stunned considering many of the charges had been dropped and all the evidence was pointing to an acquittal.

“Under the circumstances there is a lot of strain and depression,” he said.

“We expected him to come out by last Christmas and the whole thing would be over.

“They managed to find a loophole in the business they had been running and charged him against that.

“Kevin had thought the whole thing was above board, so that was very surprising.

“We had written to the powers that be over there asking why it was taking so long, as it seemed they were trying to find things that were not there.

“It seems the evidence from one witness has held the balance.”

Gerald said the family is still supporting Kevin and Charlene, even though the money has dried up.

“Kevin is not very well. I spoke to him this morning and he is really down in the dumps and had no motivation,” he said.

“He is locked in his cell 24/7 and can only come out if there is a guard with him.

“He is now a convicted prisoner, and he is being separated from Charlene.

“He will be three hours away from her so will not see or hear from her.

“He is on depression tablets and medication to help him sleep and to wake him up.

“We kept sending money over to him to buy toiletries and medication but we have had to stop that now, we couldn’t keep it going.

“While this is not what we wanted it is the beginning of the end.

“As long as he behaves himself he should be free within 12 months.

“The justice system over there is just atrocious.

“We still support him but it has been a very hard five or six years, we have been really traumatised.”