Even as he lay dying, Cliff Tiltman never gave up hope that his daughter's killer would eventually be caught.

The conviction of Colin Ash-Smith of her murder has vindicated his belief but of course it has come too late for Claire's parents to see justice done.

Mrs Tiltman died, aged 56, in March 2008 and Mr Tiltman died in September 2012.
Even as he lay desperately ill in a nursing home in January that year, the 62-year-old made a heartfelt appeal to catch his daughter’s killer.

He said: “It’s been a long time but I’ve never given up hope and never will. I can’t begin to put into words how this has affected our family. She would have been 35 now. I miss her to bits.”

He died without seeing his hope come to fruition but the couple did play a part in the court proceedings that eventually brought today's verdict - by giving prosecution evidence from beyond the grave.

Statements made to the police two days after their only child was fatally stabbed both were read to the jury at Inner London Crown Court.

Claire had left the family home in Woodward Terrace, in Horns Cross, Stone, just after 6pm on January 18, 1993, to walk less than a mile to her friend Victoria Swift’s house in Greenhithe.

Mrs Tiltman had told her daughter to leave at 7.30pm to come home. By 7.50pm Claire was not yet home. Unbeknown to either of her parents, Claire was already dead.

In her statement Mrs Tiltman said: “I thought it was late and Claire should be home. By 10 past eight I was worried.

“I telephoned Victoria’s house and she said Claire had never arrived. I phoned Lisa’s (Younger) house and Claire wasn’t there.”

Mrs Tiltman also phoned her husband at work. He was working night shifts as a plumber and had last seen his daughter two days earlier.

“I kept looking out of the window,” continued Mrs Tiltman. “I was very worried by now.”
A neighbour told Claire’s mum there had been an incident in Greenhithe, with police and ambulances at the scene.

Thinking Claire had been caught up in traffic, the two women went to Dartford police station and reported Claire as missing. Mrs Tiltman gave a description of Claire to an officer who told her there had been an incident and to go home where police from Gravesend would go to see her.

It was there that the tragic news Claire had been killed was broken to Mrs Tiltman.
“I was completely shocked. I remember just sitting there with the officers. I waited with them for Cliff to arrive.”

At 1am on January 19 the couple went to the mortuary at West Hill Hospital in Dartford and identified their daughter’s body.

Mr Tiltman had gone to work at 3pm on January 18. After his wife phoned him worried about Claire, he received a call from police telling him there had been an incident and officers would pick him up.

In his statement Mr Tiltman said he “guessed” Claire had died as soon as he saw them.
“The officers were not allowed to tell me what had happened but I guessed.”
Mr Tiltman was taken home and he said he comforted his wife.

“The police were there and we all just sat. I was completely shocked.”
He added: “I am completely heartbroken. I don’t know what to do or say.”

Tragedy continued for the family even during the trial when Mrs Tiltman’s cousin, Len Rumbul, was taken ill as he sat in court listening to the prosecution’s opening speech.
He was believed to have suffered a stroke and, after paramedics were called to the court, he was taken to King’s College Hospital in nearby Denmark Hill.