The killer of schoolgirl Tia Sharp has been jailed for life with a minimum of 38 years her murder.
There were sobs and a shout of ‘beast’ from the public gallery in the Old Bailey, in London, this morning as Hazell was sentenced.
Mr Justice Nicol said: “She was a sparky girl who was full of life but you took that life from her. All that lay ahead of her - a career, loves and family of her own - will now never be.
“And the loss of her has been devastating for her mother, her father and all her relatives and friends.
“The tragedy of their loss and her death is because of your act in murdering Tia Sharp. You are responsible.”
Stuart Hazell, 37, drew gasps in Court 2 of the Old Bailey yesterday when he dramatically admitted murdering the 12-year-old on the fifth day of his trial.
His previous denials meant Tia’s family, includiong her father, Steven Carter, from Moulton, Northampton, were forced to sit through days of disturbing and graphic evidence, including looking at a picture of her naked and put into a sexual pose after she died.
Her mother Natalie Sharp left the court in tears a number of times as the case progressed.
Yesterday as the prosecution was drawing to a close, Hazell abruptly changed his mind and entered a guilty plea to the murder charge.
His decision means Tia’s family will never get to hear his explanation of what happened to the schoolgirl, and Ms Sharp said in an impact statement that she wishes he would answer her questions.
Hazell, who had briefly dated Ms Sharp, had been in a relationship with her mother - Tia’s grandmother Christine Bicknell - for five and a half years when Tia died.
He moved into Ms Bicknell’s house in New Addington, south London, a week after the pair got together, but it was not until last year that he developed a twisted sexual attraction to Tia and assaulted her before killing her.
Speaking outside court yesterday, Tia’s father Steven Carter said Hazell’s admission was not “justice” for his daughter, and that he should “serve his time and then be hung”.
Tia’s body was found wrapped in a sheet and layers of plastic in the loft of the New Addington house a week after she went missing in August last year.
Scotland Yard came under fire for failing to find her body sooner - two officers had separately searched the loft but discovered nothing.
The force apologised to Tia’s family for not locating her body more quickly, and yesterday Commander Neil Basu said the two officers were “devastated” by their failure.
Earlier, Mr Carter’s victim impact statement was read to the Old Bailey: “The murder of my daughter Tia has shattered mine and my family’s hearts. We will never get our heads around what has happened to Tia.
“My daughter Tia’s life has been taken from us all, as we will never get the opportunity to share her 13th, 16th, 18th or 21st birthdays. We will never have the chance to see Tia walk down the aisle and get married, and have children of her own. We have all lost someone special.
“The love for Tia will always be with us, our memories of Tia smiling and playing will never be forgotten. My last memory of Tia is her jumping into my arms, giving me a kiss and her telling me she loved me. I will never get this opportunity again, but it is one of the many memories I will cherish for the rest of my life.
“My partner and son have their own memories that they will never forget. All my family and friends have their special memories, the community of New Addington have lost someone special and they themselves will never forget Tia.
“Myself and those of my family with children will never be the same as we have all stopped our children’s freedom to go out and play as we fear of something happening.
Myself, my partner, my son and members of my family are suffering from post-traumatic stress, this has caused me to lose my temper quickly, have sleepless nights, cold sweats and generally be unhappy.”
Mr Justice Nicol is expected to sentence Hazell this morning.