Susan Creser, 42, from Addiscombe and her fiance Ian Liddle, 34, were planning to get married and start a family.

However, this dream was shattered when Ian was bludgeoned to death by a homeless man on August 30, 2006.

Ian had gone out for the night and ended up on a park bench in Marble Arch.

The friendly man, described as a gentle giant by his fiance, got into an argument over his coat with a homeless man James Stewart, who had arrived in London that day.

Stewart flew into a rage and hit Ian over 54 times with a broken bottle.

Susan said: “I saw the story on the news and thought how dreadful it was, and then the police called to say that Ian was dead. It was such a shock.

“Stewart told the court that he was intent on committing a crime to get off the streets.

“Apparently, he tried to shoplift some things earlier that day but he had not been arrested.”

Before the trial began in July 2007, Susan was asked to write an impact statement which would be read out before the court before sentencing.

She said: “I thought it was a brilliant idea and was surprised that impact statements were not done automatically.

“I was looking at Stewart while it was being read out and thought ‘I hope you are digesting this’.”

In her impact statement, Susan said she wanted to tell the court and Ian’s murderer what kind of a person he was.

She said: “I did not want him to be just a name.”

Her voice breaks as she starts to talk about her Geordie fiance.

“He really believed in me and put me on a pedestal. He loved me so much. I don’t think I will find anyone who understands me as well as Ian did.

“To have all that taken away from you, over nothing, by a stranger is so devastating.

“I think the public are tired of everything being about the criminal’s rights. It’s high time the victim’s family and loved ones are heard.”

Stewart was jailed for 15 years and will not be up for parole for 13 years.

Justice Minister Maria Eagle said: “By giving bereaved families the chance to make a statement about the impact of violent crime on their lives, we are strengthening their voice and making criminals fully realise the consequences of their actions.”