A TEENAGE killer who kicked and mutilated his victim, then set her on fire, was jailed for life yesterday.

John Rowland, of Haughton Road, Darlington, admitted killing Justina Harrison, 23, also from the town, last February 6.

He changed his plea from not guilty on Monday, the day the trial was due to begin.

Standing impassively in the dock, the 18-year-old killer smiled as he was sentenced to life in prison for the horrific murder. The court heard that at first he did not admit any part in the killing, or show any remorse for what he had done.

Mr Justice Andrew Smith told him: "You subjected Justina to a most horrific attack and she died quite a horrific death."

Justina met her killer, described in court as "physically, emotionally and sexually immature", in Darlington's Dexy's Nightclub, in East Street on January 29.

The pair sat and chatted in the club, and exchanged kisses, Teesside Crown Court was told.

They took a taxi to her home in Cumberland Street, where they got out, intending to go into the house, the court heard. But Justina's parents were still up, so they went into the alley behind the house.

There, Rowland subjected her to a "sustained" and "prolonged" violent attack.

Paul Worsley QC, prosecuting, said: "This was a brutal murder with sexual overtones.

"Justina had taken drink. She was three times over the drink drive limit. It was not possible for her to defend herself.

"He kicked her repeatedly and stamped on her face when she was already bleeding heavily from the face and was on the ground.

"His boots were literally covered in her blood."

Rowland, who is believed to have been in the alleyway from between 1.30am and 4am, also fractured Justina's jaw, set fire to her breasts, stabbed and cut her repeatedly in the mouth, face and torso, with what were believed to be nail scissors. He jammed the aerial of his mobile phone repeatedly into her body, leaving marks still visible many hours later.

At about 2am, a neighbour heard a woman calling: "Help me, help me," and then heard a man telling her to be quiet, the court heard.

At about 4am, Rowland called a taxi 250 yards from the scene and went home.

Justina, who lay in the alleyway overnight, was found by refuse collectors the next morning. She died of her injuries in Darlington Memorial Hospital eight days later.

Aidan Marron QC, defending, said: "No words or submissions by me can explain why this young woman had to die."

He said: "It takes little imagination to know what was on the agenda that particular night.

"We maintain he had no sexual experience before this night.

"She became impatient in his deficiencies in that department. There may have been a derisive comment. He responded to her, violence occurred. He lost self control."

Mr Marron said his client had little recollection of the "awful beating" and had been in denial. He said: "He now acknowledges entirely that what he did was dreadful."

Rowland had since broken down and had been consumed with anxiety and expressed great remorse.

Mr Justice Andrew Smith said: "Exactly what caused you to do what you did perhaps we shall never know. There is only one possible sentence, life imprisonment."

The verdict was greeted with claps and cheers from the public gallery