For four years there has been a space at the Armstrong Christmas table, left for John in the hope he will be freed from his Indian hell hole.

This year, their dream could finally come true.

The 30-year-old Wigton man was dramatically cleared yesterday after almost two years in jail and a nightmare stretching back to October 2013.

He and 34 other men, all crew members on board the Seaman Guard Ohio, were formally acquitted following an appeal which has taken the judge 12 months to rule on.

For John’s family eagerly waiting for news back home, when they heard the verdict it was almost too much to take.

Joanne Thomlinson, his sister, had been live on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show, nearing the end of a morning of interviews, when she got a text message from a friend in India.

This was followed by a text from another friend, simultaneously sent to the News & Star , before eventually the lawyer sent through official confirmation.

The 32-year-old told the News & Star afterwards: “I just can’t believe it to be honest. When I got the message I didn’t think it was true.

“I think I’d built myself up into thinking it was going to be a no and that the appeal had failed. I’m not sure why that was: we’ve just had so many knockbacks, I think it was self preservation. I didn’t dare believe it.”

Joanne was in Chennai, India, two weeks ago with a News & Star reporter. While out there, news broke of a potential verdict within two weeks, and she spoke to John about it during one of her visits.

“He didn’t really want to talk about it,” Joanne recalled, “because he didn’t want to get his hopes up.

“We discussed whether I would go out though and we said we would leave it initially and see what happens. He’s ok with that – he just wants to come home.

“I’m now in shock. After four years of fighting, that the High Court – for a second time – have cleared the men of all charges is just… it’s incredible.”

John’s dad, also called John, didn’t learn of the news until several hours after the rest of the world. He was flying back from a weekend away and was mid-air when the verdict came through, only learning that his son’s name had been cleared when he landed in Manchester at about midday.

John’s mum, Helen, said it was an emotional moment for both of them – and it is a day she feared may never come.

She is already getting excited at the thought of spoiling her only son and giving him the presents which have been carefully accumulated during every birthday and Christmas he has missed.

“Some of the perishable items have gone,” she said, speaking to the News & Star from her Wigton home.

“The chocolate was at its sell by date, so we had to eat it – as John hates waste! We’ve got quite a few presents for him though, waiting in his bedroom, which we cannot wait to give him.

“For four years there has been a huge hole in our lives. Not having him around has been a huge miss to us all.

“It is great just thinking that there is an end in sight, and John will be back where he belongs, with his family. To be able to have family time together and get back to some sort of normality.”

Like Joanne, Helen says the reality is still sinking in but said the first thing she plans to do when she sees John is “give him a huge hug and smile”.

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Wigton's ribbons for John

Yellow ribbons have begun to appear around Wigton, as the town gets behind John.

It all began with a comment from a family member, but now it is hoped that the colourful decorations will festoon the market town in time for the former paratrooper’s return home.

Judith Butterfield, owner of Rainbow Flowers in King Street, explained: “Mrs Armstrong [John’s mum Helen] is a customer, and comes in and I’d ask how she is, and about John and we’d catch up.
Judith Butterfield from Rainbow Flowers in Wigton ties yeallow ribbon as a symbol of homecoming.

“A family member came in this morning and told us the news, and mentioned they were putting a yellow ribbons outside the door. I thought we could do that too.

“People are at work and may not have heard, so they will see the ribbon and ask what it is about and hear the good news.”

Judith is hoping that when there is a date for John’s return, the town will be festooned in yellow ribbons.

“Wigton is a strong community,” she said. “We help one another.

“When we have a date for John to come home then I’m sure there will be many more ribbons to put up to welcome him back.”