THE man who raped and murdered nine-year-old Laura Kane after gaining the trust of her family was yesterday branded a cold killer who showed no remorse.

Detective Superintendent Steve Bolam, the detective who led the hunt which snared her killer Colin Bainbridge, 35, spoke out after his conviction in Newcastle Crown Court.

He said: "On August 25 last year Laura Kane left her house a happy, innocent and trusting nine-year-old girl.

"Colin Bainbridge grossly abused that trust. He took Laura away, raped her and murdered her. His actions were despicable.

"He returned to the family acting as though nothing had happened and he went on as though nothing had happened.

"At no point during interviews did Bainbridge show any remorse at all."

Laura's father Martin Kane, 41 - who revealed last night that he had tried to get custody of his daughter only hours before she was murdered - said: "Although no sentence has been passed today, I am pleased justice has been done and my Laura can now rest in peace."

His ex-partner Carol Kane, overwhelmed by emotion, said: "I would like to thank everyone for their help in looking for Laura.

"I think that the jury today has come to the right conclusion, but I am just sad he wasn't sentenced today. I will be back on Monday to hear it.

"I am just sad that Laura's grandfather, who died last night, wasn't here to hear the verdict.

"I just want to be left alone now to grieve for Laura and my father."

Bainbridge denied rape and murder, but was convicted by a jury of seven men and five women after three hours' deliberation. The verdict, following an eight-day trial, was greeted by cries of "yes" from the public gallery, as Mr and Mrs Kane wept with relief.

The court heard how Bainbridge had lured Laura away from her home in Front Street, Penshaw, near Sunderland.

Laura had been the youngest of seven siblings who had been living in a "chaotic" home.

Instead of keeping a promise to let the youngster see his baby son, Bainbridge took her to his home in Murton, County Durham.

There, he raped her and suffocated her and hid her body under the floorboards of his sitting room.

On the night of the murder, he went to the pub for a drink with Laura's mother and continued to deny all knowledge of her whereabouts.

He kept in touch with the family as the hunt for her intensified. In the biggest search and rescue operation since Lockerbie, 18 square miles of woodland and open ground surrounding Penshaw were meticulously combed.

But Bainbridge's inconsistent statements eventually led police to visit his home ten days later, where they found Laura's body.

Self-employed electrician Bainbridge later admitted she had died at his home, but said she had suffocated accidentally while bound and gagged during a "tie-up" game of Cowboys and Indians.

Prosecutor John Milford said he had been a determined killer.

He said: "He lied and lied and lied to cover up his crimes.

"This is a man who does not give up, who twists and turns and shifts the blame, who invents stories and seeks pity on himself."

Bainbridge faces a mandatory life sentence. But Mr Justice Nelson reserved sentence until Monday, after saying the case was one in which he would need to consider imposing a recommendation on how long Bainbridge should serve before being considered for release