CHILD killer Colin Bainbridge was labelled "evil" by a judge yesterday as the mother of murdered schoolgirl Laura Kane dealt with a second family tragedy.

Judge Mr Justice Nelson said the brutal rape and murder of pretty nine year old schoolgirl Laura Kane was a "truly heinous crime".

He said: "This was an evil offence of the utmost gravity. The jury convicted you and rightly on the evidence. The agony for the family was prolonged by your callous attempts to cover up your crime.

"You are a serious danger to young girls."

Mr Justice Nelson made a recommendation to the Home Secretary that Bainbridge serve at least 22 years behind bars.

As Bainbridge left the dock flanked by three guards he whispered "I'm sorry" to Laura's grieving relatives in the public gallery.

Laura's mother Carol, 38, had been in court throughout the week-long trial which ended on Wednesday with Bainbridge being found guilty of rape and murder.

But yesterday, she was 15 miles away at the funeral of her stepfather George McCabe, 70, who died of bowel cancer the night before Bainbridge was found guilty.

Carol said: "My dad fought and fought to stay alive. He wanted to know that he was behind bars - but he couldn't hold on anymore.

"Laura loved her grandad. He wanted Bainbridge dead, but now he can rest in peace with Laura and I'm sure they are both looking down on us now."

Laura disappeared from her home in Front Street, Penshaw, near Sunderland, last August 25. She was lured away by "family friend" Bainbridge with the promise of letting her visit his baby son, Kieran.

But the 35-year-old former electrician took her to his home in Murton, County Durham, where he raped her and suffocated her before hiding her body under the floorboards of his sitting room.

After he was found guilty, Carol said: " He worked his way into our lives and became a trusted family friend, then he took my little girl away from me.

"When Laura was missing he came to my home time and time again to comfort me and assured me everything was going to be all right, and all the while he knew she was already dead. How could he be so evil and cruel?"

Laura's father, Martin Kane, said after sentencing: "Life should mean just that - life. I was insulted at the end when he said he was sorry."