MPS have welcomed the announcement that full life sentences will remain in place for notorious serial killers.

Mark Hobson, formerly of Camblesforth, was given a whole life sentence in 2005 for murdering twin sisters in the village and a couple from Strensall, while Arthur Hutchinson murdered three people in Dore, near Sheffield in October 1983, hours after they had celebrated a family wedding.

Hutchinson was on the run from police at the time after escaping from Selby Magistrates’ Court, having been arrested on suspicion of rape but he has claimed in recent years that the whole-life prison term he was given amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment.

On Wednesday, he lost an appeal to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, who disagreed with his claim.

Selby MP Nigel Adams said he was at school when the crimes happened in the eighties, but he remembered them well and was glad to hear of the outcome of the appeal.

He said: “I’m pleased that Hutchinson’s appeal has failed.

“It was a vile and heinous crime and it would be outrageous to think that some day he might walk the streets again so I am pleased that this decision has been reached.”

York Press:

Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer, said he also welcomed the decision, which came following several years of legal wrangling by Hutchinson.

He said: “It is crucial that our judges retain the ability to hand down sentences that ensure some of Britain’s most notorious murders will spend the rest of their life behind bars.

“I hope that the court’s judgement will draw a line underneath this matter and make clear that vexatious legal challenges, by the likes of Mark Hobson, on the grounds of human rights law can be thrown out immediately.

"The European Court of Human Rights judgement means that Britain’s most heinous criminals can continue to be given whole-life tariffs.

"This is entirely reasonable and will be welcome news to the victims of serious crime.”