Gran: I will find money to help clear Luke Walker over girlfriend's death in Crete

Betty Walker, aged 81, has been kept up-to-date on his plight in Greece more than 1,600 miles away at her terraced home in Cradley Heath.

The 25-year-old from Brierley Hill has always maintained his innocence and denied murdering his girlfriend on the holiday island of Crete in 2010 but he was found guilty by a court this week of grievous bodily harm leading to the death of 20-year-old Chelsea and handed an eight-year jail term. It was immediately suspended when he launched his appeal.

Mrs Walker broke down when the news came of his conviction late on Wednesday night.

But she has vowed to help her grandson, even scraping together her own savings to help pay his 10,000 euros (£8,552) bail surety so that Luke is free to return to his Brierley Hill home.

Until the bail money is posted, he has to remain in Crete, and he will have to travel back to Greece next year when his appeal will be held.

Fighting back tears, Mrs Walker said: "I'd do anything for him, just to have Luke home with his family and friends who love him.

"I'm going to give him the money. It doesn't matter to me. He is my grandson, that's all that matters."

Dozens of precious family photographs, including ones of Luke as a young child, adorn the walls of her neat home. Pictures of him grinning with his siblings and cousins and proudly sporting his school uniform are a constant reminder of happier times.

But even with her voice wavering, Mrs Walker says her courage has not been broken by the whirlwind developments in the Crete courtroom. She says Luke's conviction has only strengthened her resolve to see thatjustice is done for her grandson. "I would never believe that he could do something like that, because he was devoted to Chelsea," said Mrs Walker.

"He is innocent, and he has got a loving family that is there for him and supports one another. We are all behind him." The family have been staying in rented apartments near the court in the Cretan capital of Heraklion and will remain on the Greek island to post his bail money. But despite the tension and trauma of his impending trial, Mrs Walker says the family united to celebrate Christmas and always gather together to mark special occasions and birthdays.

"We always try to do things together as a family – we have a big family," she said.

"That's why when Luke was with Chelsea, it was like she was a daughter to us."

She described him as a 'normal, down-to-earth' lad growing up, going to watch the Wolves play with his father and brother Ryan. He was a pupil at Thorns Community College, Quarry Bank, before leaving to work at his father's electrical business.

Two of Luke's schoolfriends worked in Crete's party resort Malia and persuaded him to go out there to work during the summer. It was during his second summer aboard in the Mediterranean that he met Chelsea, who was part of a group of friends working in the resort's many bars and clubs.

Mrs Walker, who has four children, nine grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren, has lived in the area all her life, working in the family general store in Cradley while she was growing up.

She was widowed when her husband Colin, a chain striker, died aged 59 about 21 years ago after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

She says friends from the nearby Holy Trinity Church have pledged to support her, offering the family space at an upcoming table top sale to raise funds.

Members of the Salvation Army, in Cradley Heath, have also been in contact over recent days.

Mrs Walker is also being supported by her granddaughter and Luke's cousin Daniella, 25, who said the family were still in shock.

"It has just been such a rushed affair," said the mother-of-two, who lives in Brierley Hill and works at a pharmacy in the town.

"My phone has been red hot ever since from people ringing to give their support. Everybody is just in shock about what has happened.

"It is just the fact that he still can't get back to normal because it is still hanging over him."