Nathan Owens has been jailed for a minimum of 35 years for the murder of his 19-year-old stepdaughter Carla Georgescu. The 34-year-old was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after a jury convicted him following a two-week trial.
Ms Georgescu was found dead in her student flat in Preston the day before her birthday. Owens had driven 100 miles through the night to kill her after developing a one-sided sexual obsession with her.
Abuse hidden before murder
Owens concealed his behaviour after marrying the victim's mother, Janina. He doctored childhood photographs of Ms Georgescu into indecent images and filmed himself carrying out sexual acts in her bedroom and with an "effigy" of her clothed in her nightdress.
Sentencing him to a life term, Mr Justice Jacobs described Owens as "despicable" and said he had subjected his victim to a "horrific, brutal attack".
Night of the attack
In the early hours of February 4, Owens left his partner at their home in Hartlepool, Co Durham, to travel to Preston. He messaged Carla, pretending that he and her mother were coming to pick up a purse her mother had left behind on their previous visit to Lancashire.
CCTV showed Carla letting Owens, covered with a blanket, into her halls of residence - the last time she was seen alive. He subjected his stepdaughter to a violent and sexual assault as he strangled her.
Staged scene and arrest
Owens then staged the scene to make it look as though Carla had taken her own life and returned home as though nothing had happened, disposing of evidence on his route.
Detectives from Lancashire Police arrested him soon afterwards, but he denied any involvement in Carla's death. Owens chose not to give evidence at his trial.
