THESE are the first pictures of Chris Hall, the father who took the life of the six-year-old son he feared losing.

Our exclusive photographs show Mr Hall posing outside the Poole council-owned lodge he lived in when he was caretaker of Branksome Cemetery and with his three dogs.

Though these Daily Echo pictures date from 1999, they will appear familiar to anyone who knew Mr Hall, a renowned dog lover. He and his son were seen walking their dogs in the area around their Queen’s Road home in Parkstone almost every day..

When the bodies of Mr Hall and his son were discovered at the house on Wednesday, three dogs were also found and taken into care by police.

Neighbours said Mr Hall was known for taking in rescued dogs.

“It showed you what sort a caring man he was,” said one neighbour.

Our pictures show Mr Hall at the time he was working as a caretaker at Branksome cemetery, aged around 42.

At the time these photos were taken, he would not have begun his relationship with Chris’s mother, Rachel Edwards.

Little Chris was yet to be born.

The photos show Mr Hall with huge arms and wide shoulders. He was known as a gym fanatic and bodybuilder, with a full set of weights equipment in his garage.