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Robert Maltby and his girlfriend Sophie Lancaster looked a bit different from other young people - they often dressed in black and wore eye make up, and Sophie had a lot of face and body piercings.

It was their so-called "goth" appearance that led to a vicious and unprovoked attack which left Sophie dead and Robert suffering from brain damage.

In August 2007, whilst walking in a park in their home town of Bacup in the North West of England, they were set upon by a gang of youths who kicked and beat them repeatedly.

Two teenage boys were jailed for life for murdering Sophie and three other boys were sent to prison for the attack on the couple.

The judge described it as an act of "feral thuggery" and said that the only motive was that the couple looked different.

Now Robert - who is a talented artist - has launched an exhibition of paintings called Crimson Iris - The Art of Sophie.

His aim is to raise money for the charitable foundation set up in her memory.

Matthew Bannister spoke to Robert at his home in Bacup and asked him about his experiences and how he first met Sophie.