RESIDENTS on an estate where a man was murdered with a samurai sword yesterday scoffed at claims that he patrolled his neighbourhood wearing a balaclava carrying a baseball bat.

They told a very different story to the one painted of Robert Dunne at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday when his killer Jason Kelly was sentenced to life for murder. The court was told how Mr Dunne patrolled his estate and carried a cannister of CS Gas - claims that have been furiously denied by his family. Last night friends and neighbours on the estate where he lived said they did not recognise the man who was described in court.

Mr Dunne, 31, was stabbed in the back with a samurai sword outside the post office in the West Lane area of Middlesbrough on January 11 this year.

The court heard he was a self-styled vigilante who was not adverse to taking the law into his own hands.

However these claims were last night refuted by Leslie Jones, Mr Dunne's grandfather.

He said: "When I was sat in court listening to what the defence barrister was saying I could hardly believe it - it was not Robert.

"Robert was a well-respected, well liked lad. He helped neighbours out and always had a smile and a wave for people."

Mr Jones claims Robert and his girlfriend, Julie, suffered two years of torment and abuse by a gang of youths, and had had his car stolen, abuse hurled at him and fires started outside his house.

The 82-year-old said: "Robert did stand up to the bullies, but there is no way he patrolled the streets dressed in a balaclava and carrying a baseball bat. He would have been picked up by the police if he had.

"He was just a hard-working lad who wanted to help people. If there had been a full trial we would have been able to get our story across but we have been robbed of that chance."A friend of the family said they were "disgusted" by the way Mr Dunne was portrayed. "It just isn't correct," he added.

Those views were echoed by residents in the West Lane area who remember Robert as someone who would always offer a helping hand.

One said: "I had had trouble with youths drinking and swearing outside my house and Robert would ask them politely to move on somewhere else.

"They would get abusive towards him but he stood up for us and his family.

"I certainly do not remember him with a balaclava or baseball cap. The stories that have been coming out about Robert are all lies and his poor family must be distraught."