He lived a simple life that came to a brutal end.
The mystery of who killed John ‘The Badge’ Roberts remains unsolved, almost 10 years after his violent death. Today people living in Winlaton, Gateshead, where John was killed, have told how the mysterious murder, in 2012, has cast a dark shadow over their community.
And as they recall their memories of John, we take a look back on the devoted Newcastle United fan's short life - and how he became such a familiar face to fellow members of the Toon Army.
John was found dead in his home on Park Terrace, Winlaton, when patrolling police officers noticed the door was open and went to investigate.
He had suffered a fatal head injury and a huge murder probe was launched.
As part of the investigation police looked into his life in Winlaton and his links to the Newcastle United community.
John, the son of teachers Jennifer and David, grew up in Gateshead.
He became a loyal Toon fan at an early age and treasured family photos from John’s childhood show he was rarely seen without a black and white shirt on.
While birthday snaps reveal that even his cakes were iced in his beloved team’s colours.
Following John’s death at aged 32, Jennifer told how her son displayed entrepreneurial skills from an early age.
“He grew up within a stable close-knit family and was a much loved member of that extended family,” she said. “John was an intelligent boy. He showed he had a lot to gain from life and as a young teenager he was buying and selling badges and football programmes.
“He wrote a fanzine for Newcastle United and was always showing his entrepreneurial skills.”
John earned the nickname ‘John The Badge’ because he could be spotted selling pin badges outside the Tyneside Irish Centre in Newcastle on most match days.
He would also organise bus trips to away games for travelling Newcastle United supporters.
And friends have told after his death how John was also a doting dad to his young daughter.
One pal said: “When John was away at matches abroad he used to get her a teddy from the airport – she must have at least 60. He brought her a little train set from Latvia once and mini bottles of perfume, he just doted on her.”
Following John’s death, another close friend, Mark Ruz, said: “I knew him for 15 years and he was one of the most respected of all the Newcastle fans. He was a great friend and will be missed by the many fans who knew him, not just me.
“He was a very good dad, he always used to talk about his little girl.”
However, John’s life and appearance changed dramatically in the months and years leading to his death.
Before he died, the dad had a distinctive beard and long hair, which made him look far older than his 32 years, whereas five years earlier he had been clean-shaven with neatly trimmed hair.
Following the murder, detectives said they had become aware that John had become more reclusive in the years before he was killed and was a bit of a ‘loner’, growing apart from his family and friends,
ChronicleLive understands his home on Park Terrace, in Winlaton, had been sparsely furnished.
And he became very much a creature of habit, walking up and down Shibdon Bank at the same time every day to visit his local shops.
One of the last people to see John alive was Blaydon newsagent Jack Kandola.
In 2013 he told how John had been his usual chatty self on his last trip to his local shop.
He stopped to read the back page of The Chronicle and spoke to staff at the Kandola Bros newsagents, before leaving with a packet of cigarette papers for the short walk back home to Park Terrace.
Mr Kandola said: “He was always chatty, and he always used to come in and read the back page of the Chronicle, he was a mad football fan. I used to joke with him and say, ‘This isn’t a library John’.
“That night he was just his normal self. He was only in here a few minutes. He came in and read the back page, bought some cigarette papers and left.”
Mr Roberts had been a regular at Mr Kandola’s shop, on Hazel Road, for years and used to visit the same time each evening.
“I have known him about 15 years,” the father-of-two said. “He was a really good bloke, a really nice lad. He came in most days to buy cigarettes or papers, He was just a lovely, lovely bloke.
“In the earlier days he was one of the cleanest cut blokes you would ever see, He always had designer gear on and was always wearing a Burberry cap. And he would stay in here for half an hour or 45 minutes just talking.
“He was always nice and polite and I never ever heard him swear. He was just a perfect gentleman. He was always happy-go-lucky, nothing ever got him down.
“Over the last six months he went downhill. It’s just such a shame he went that way. I don’t know what happened to him I wish I knew.”
And John is still remembered fondly by people in Winlaton.
Tracey Callison, still lives a few doors up from what was John's home, on Park Terrace.
The 58-year-old said: "I had nothing bad to say about the man, but I know what people are like, they chat rubbish.
"There were people that used to go into his house and take advantage of him because he just let them in. He was just a nice bloke. "
And Leah Bowles, 25, who knew John when she was a child added: "I just knew him because he lived near us. He was dead canny. He was spot on. He was just someone you could talk to. When I was little I used to go round to his house.
"He was like a father figure to people. He looked out for the young people in the area."
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