Actor Ray Winstone criticised the police after Sam’s release last week, and said someone must answer for the “outrageous miscarriage of justice”.

The film and TV hardman, whose nephew Bobby Hopwood is Sam’s best friend, has campaigned for Sam’s release since he was jailed in 2005 and asked how an innocent man could spend seven years in jail.

Speaking after the release, he said: “For me it is the disgraceful unprofessional action of the police involved in this case.

“Action that has caused a terrible stress within the family of the Hallams.” The Londoner said Mr Hallam’s family had been left “broken-hearted” by the “tragic suicide of Sam’s father” Terry Hallam, who died in October 2010.

He said: “Sam is free, but has lost seven years of his young life.

“The family can now hopefully rebuild their lives. But they can’t bring Sam’s dad back.”

“A young man lost his life.

“His family will never get over that.

“The killer is out there because the police involved in this case did not do their job.”