THE family of Luke Walker say they just want to get on with their lives after losing their bid to overturn his conviction for killing his girlfriend in Crete.

Twenty-seven-year-old Luke from Brierley Hill had hoped to clear his name after he was found guilty in 2013 of causing grievous bodily harm leading to the death of 20-year-old Chelsea Hyndman while the couple were living and working on the Greek holiday isle in 2010.

An eight-year jail sentence meted out was suspended after he lodged an appeal which was finally heard at the Mixed Criminal Court in Heraklion on March 11 and 12.

But Walker's protestations of innocence fell on deaf ears and he was unable to overturn the conviction.

His sentence was, however, reduced to three-years imprisonment - suspended for three years.

Luke's lawyer Georgios Pyromallis said it was "uncommon" for a sentence to be reduced in this way for such a serious crime.

His dad Patrick Walker, aged 58, who has always maintained his son was innocent, said: "We're relieved it's over but disappointed with the result. I thought we'd put a good enough case together for him to be acquitted. I thought the case was very strong."

Barman turned electrician Luke was originally charged with murder after Chelsea from Yorkshire died from ruptured internal organs on May17 2010 and he spent 150 days in a Greek jail before being released on bail but the charge was later reduced to GBH leading to death.

Mr Walker added: "From charging him with the highest crime in the land to reducing it to a three-year suspended sentence for GBH - tells me they probably weren't convinced themselves.

"If they were sure I don't think he would have walked away with a suspended sentence."

"But it's over now. We won't have to go back to Greece again - that's a great relief. We've just got to get on with our lives."

His parents Patrick and Lindy have spent almost five years campaigning to clear their son's name - wracking up huge legal bills and costs which rocketed over the £300,000 mark and forced them to sell their family home in Gayfield Avenue last year.

Luke said: "The support I've been given over the last five years has been unbelievable. Everyone has stood by the truth. It's closure after five long years."

Chelsea's heartbroken mum Heather Hyndman said, however, she will have to suffer the loss of her "bubbly, outgoing" daughter for the rest of her life and she added: "I can put the court case behind me but I just can't come to terms with how he can be allowed to carry on with life as normal. She deserves justice but hasn't had it."