FORMER stripper Adrian Sinclair has gone into hiding after his ex-lover brought bloodshed to a street in Radcliffe.

Last week psychotherapist Heather Stephenson-Snell was jailed for life for the murder of an innocent neighbour as she tried to confront Mr Sinclair's new partner Diane Lomax.

Mr Robert Wilkie (43) died outside the home of his girlfriend, Debbie O'Brien, in Holland Street, after he complained about the noise to the woman, who had been banging on next door, dressed in a Scream mask.

Stephenson-Snell (46), of Crombie Street, York, shot Mr Wilkie at point-blank range after he tried to unmask her. She was also convicted of the attempted murder of Ms Lomax on Hallowe'en night last year.

Susannah Houghton, the sister of Mr Sinclair, said her brother had since assumed a different name and lived in fear of reprisals.

She said: "Heather Stephenson-Snell was very possessive, constantly mithering Adrian and she wouldn't leave him alone.

"But she used him, leaving him for America and saying that she didn't want to know him.

"When she came back, she couldn't accept that he had moved on. Adrian has done nothing wrong and just wants a peaceful life."

Susannah's husband Shane cradled Mr Wilkie as he lay dying in the street, following the shooting.

He said: "Holding Bob felt like a lifetime and I felt so helpless that I couldn't do more."

The couple knew Mr Wilkie and his partner Debbie O'Brien well.

Susannah added: "All Debbie talked about was Bob and it was clear that they were obviously in love.

"He was the love of her life -- and one of the most lovely men that you could wish to meet."

The Houghtons have now vowed to leave the Radcliffe area due to the painful memories of that tragic night.

The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) has also called on the Government to bring in statutory regulations for practitioners, in the wake of the murder.

Stephenson-Snell had run her psychotherapy clinic in York for 13 years, treating hundreds of patients with personal difficulties. Despite a degree in psychology and post-graduate qualifications, she was not on the UKCP register.

Following her conviction, it was revealed she suffered from numerous personality problems, including theatricality, exaggerated expression of emotions, and a histrionic personality disorder.

Lucy Donohue, spokeswoman for UKCP, said: "Psychotherapy is not statutorily regulated and is not regulated by any Department of Health organisations.

"We have a code of ethics and have certain requirements for anyone to be on our register, but pretty much anyone can set up in psychotherapy.

"This is something we have been campaigning against, and cases like this highlight just why regulation is necessary."

A Department of Health spokesman said talks could soon start on establishing official registers.