CARA Martin-Brown's mum today told of the daughter who tragically lost her way in life, but was always loved by her familyLeonora Gardiner said she felt it was time to speak out, because she did not want Ms Martin-Brown's memory to be defined by her descent into drugs and prostitution.

CARA Martin-Brown's mum today told of the daughter who tragically lost her way in life, but was always loved by her family

Leonora Gardiner said she felt it was time to speak out, because she did not want Ms Martin-Brown's memory to be defined by her descent into drugs and prostitution.

The former Chantry High School pupil's family have deliberately waited until after her murderer, Darren Brown, was convicted, before paying their own eulogy.

Now they want people to know the Cara they cherished, but could not save.

Mrs Gardiner was reluctant to talk about her family's feelings for Brown, of Alderman Road, Ipswich, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for her daughter's killing last Monday.

However she was relieved her murderer has been brought to justice.

She said: "The only thing we do feel is that justice has been done by the sentencing."

The pain of Mrs Gardiner's loss is still as raw as it ever was, despite the ten months that have passed since Ms Martin-Brown was fatally injured in a savage attack.

But although they are left with only her memories, the Gardiner family's love for Ms Martin Brown has never diminished.

The mum-of-two, who was also known to many as Cara Gardiner, has left her family with many happy recollections of the good times they once shared.

Mrs Gardiner, 49, said: "She was such a funny little person all her life and so cheeky. Cara left behind a legacy that would melt the hardest heart.

"We as her family obviously miss and love her the most of all. This is why we do not want Cara to be remembered as 'the prostitute that was murdered' in Ipswich two days before Christmas, but as Cara the one who if 'love could have saved her' would still be among us today."

N See page four for full story.