A CAMPAIGNING Prestwich journalist who helped free a convicted killer is celebrating a unique hat-trick of Press awards.

These latest tributes come after Don Hale's personal crusade was instrumental in freeing Stephen Downing, pending an Appeal Court hearing.

Downing was jailed 27 years ago for the murder of Wendy Sewell in the Peak District town of Bakewell.

But for the past six years Mr Hale (48), editor of the Matlock Mercury, has led a campaign to try to have Downing's conviction overturned.

The journalist, former editor of the Bury Messenger, believes Downing's conviction is a miscarriage of justice and that the entire case is a catalogue of bungled evidence and cover-ups. Earlier this year, Mr Hale's painstaking investigative work won him a What the Papers Say "Journalist of the Year" title and the Observer's "Man of the Year" accolade.

And last week, the journalist picked up three other coveted Press awards.

He collected a special award at the British Press Awards for outstanding campaigning journalism.

The event was staged in London in front of 900 guests. And Mr Hale and his wife Kath were at the table occupied by Michael Parkinson.

The following day, Mr Hale was named winner of the BT Midlands Journalist of the Year award in Birmingham.

The hat-trick was achieved the following evening when he won the Big Issue Big Difference award at another star-studded ceremony at the Palace Hotel in Manchester.

A delighted Mr Hale said: "I have now collected five trophies for this campaign and have another five nominations to go."

And he could see his campaign turned into a major Hollywood blockbuster. Several companies have expressed an interest in turning the story into a film.