GRIEVING Roy Cameron has condemned a twisted phone pest who claimed to have murdered his daughter.

Gavin Waters made a string of calls to strangers, one of them claiming he murdered student Sara Cameron, 23.

Detectives traced the calls and swooped to trap the 20-year-old - but DNA tests proved that he was lying.

Waters was warned he could face jail when he appeared before a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.

Mr Cameron, 60, of Paignton, Devon, said: "Sick is the word that comes to mind. We already know there are some sick people around.

"It makes me sad that someone would do this. It does nothing to help the police catch the person who is still out there.

"It doesn't matter how long it takes for the police to bring the killer to justice, the main aim is to make sure everything is done right.

"The investigation is in the hands of the police. They keep me informed but have a job to do and I am confident in everything they are working towards."

Sara, a sports management student at Northumbria University, was strangled as she walked to her home in Earsdon, North Tyneside, after a night out on April 20, last year.

Waters, of St Anthony's Road, Walker, Newcastle, phoned a complete stranger, claimed he was Sara's killer and threatened to do the same thing to them.

He also shocked a 15-year-old schoolgirl with sexual comments in another call.

It was alleged that Waters, who has received psychiatric treatment, made the calls between January last year and January this year, causing distress annoyance, alarm and harassment.

Judge Tim Hewitt adjourned sentence for psychiatric reports but said: "It could well be that you receive a custodial sentence."