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Former milkman guilty of murdering Claire Tiltman

Colin Ash-Smith guilty of the murder of Kent schoolgirl Claire Tiltman in 1993.

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Praise for family and friends after killer jailed for life

Mr Justice Sweeney said the tireless efforts of Claire's family and friends kept the pressure on to track down her killer.

He said: "The efforts of Claire's family and friends kept her murder in the public conscience, and thanks to the recent re-activation of the inquiry by Kent police, further evidence came to light and you have finally been brought to justice."

Ash-Smith's mother Linda could face criminal charges for providing her son with a false alibi for the night of the killing.

Asked about this possibility, Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson, one of the leads on the investigation, said: "We haven't considered that yet. It will need to be looked at."

DSI Vinson said Ash-Smith could have been back on the streets if he had not been charged with Claire's murder the day the parole board was to decide if he was fit for release.

He said there was a "strong likelihood" Ash-Smith would have been released for home visits and day release.

Today's sentence means Ash-Smith will be 67 before he is considered for release.

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