‘Outback Murder’ survivor Joanne Lees is a social worker in Huddersfield 15 years after her partner was killed in Australia
Her boyfriend Peter Falconio was brutally murdered in the outback in 2001
A BACKPACKER who was kidnapped, drugged, and raped by a man who killed her boyfriend is still living in her hometown of Huddersfield - 15 years after her terrifying ordeal.
Joanne Lees became the centre of a world-famous murder investigation when she was found in the Australian outback claiming to have been abducted by a drifter.
It wasn't long before suspicion fell on her and she became the prime suspect in her boyfriend's murder.
It wasn't until four years later, after police launched one of the biggest manhunts in Australian history, that drug runner Bradley Murdoch was locked up for the crime.
He is now serving a 28-year sentence for the murder of Peter Falconio while Ms Lees lives an isolated life as a social worker at the Directorate for Children and Young People for Kirklees Council.
She has had various jobs - including working at a travel agency and supporting the disabled after returning to college to study sociology.
Her reluctance towards the limelight is a different story a decade ago when the survivor appeared to be embracing the spotlight after releasing a book called No Turning Back.
Now she lives in a two-bedroomed terraced house in Berry Brow, Huddersfield, and is alleged to have turned her back on family and friends - choosing instead to spend most of her time alone.
She has never married following the tragic death of her boyfriend.
It was back in 2001 that she and Mr Falconio, who was 28 at the time, were touring Australia in a VW Kombi campervan when tragedy struck.
Ms Lees said they were ambushed by Bradley Murdoch who had followed them in a four-by-four. as they drove north to Alice Springs.
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He told them he he had a problem with the exhaust, but when Mr Falconio went to help he was shot by the stranger.
Ms Lees bit and scratched Murdoch as he dragged her out of the car and threw her into his vehicle instead.
Later she managed to escape his clutches by jumping out of the car and disappearing into the darkness.
She hid in the bushes for up to five hours before she ran into the road a waved down a passing truck.
Since then she has had to endure speculation that she was behind the horrifying murder of Mr Falconio, whose body has never been found.
During Murdoch's trial Ms Lees admitted to a holiday "fling" with an Irishman named Nick Reilly.
She said had secretly met him several times for sex before she and Mr Falconio went on their Outback adventure.
A Vienna-based Doctor named Keith Allan Noble has always claimed that Joanne is the murderer.
He even put up a £25,000 reward poster around Alice Springs appealing for information in a bid to find information to arrest her.
Dr Noble recently claimed: "Murdoch was set up. It was a show trial. So-called evidence was manipulated, other evidence was withheld from the trial."
After the 10th anniversary of Mr Falconio's death, Ms Lees said she wanted to put the past behind her.
"There comes a time when you feel you have said what you want to say."
Meanwhile Mr Falconio's family have paid tribute to their son with a special memorial in a secret location in Australia - 15 years on from his murder.
His mum Joan said: "We're very pleased we have a special memorial to Peter after all this time.
"It is most fitting for our son, we chose it but have not seen it yet.
"We are hoping to visit it one day but we don't know if it will be possible, not because of the expense but because of our age and health."
Mr and Mrs Falconio, who have three other children, still live in the same village of Hepworth, near Huddersfield, West Yorks, where their murdered son grew up.
It's just seven miles from where Ms Lees lives. The family insist they are still on good terms.
A court sentenced Murdoch to life in jail after a drop of his DNA was found on Joanne's t-shirt.
He had earlier been convicted of causing a death by dangerous driving and jailed for a gun offence.
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