THREE North Yorkshire police officers have won a top judge's commendation for their work in catching and convicting killer Mark Hobson of four horrific murders.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press, Hobson joined the country's most notorious killers such as Harold Shipman, Myra Hindley and Rosemary West, when he was told he would never be released from jail.

Giving him four life sentences for the killings of 27-year-old twins Claire and Diana Sanderson, and elderly retired couple James and Joan Britton, Mr Justice Grigson, the presiding judge for all crown courts in Yorkshire and the north-east, told him: "On each count, life means exactly that."

Earlier he had said: "The damage you have done is incalculable, and the enormity of what you have done is beyond words."

The sentence made legal history, as it was the first time a defendant had received such a sentence after pleading guilty.

His barrister, Jeremy Richardson QC, said his plea was his only mitigation.

Relatives of the four victims shouted: "Yes," as the sentences were announced, and screamed: "bastard," and "rot in hell," as four prison officers escorted him to the cells. Another two officers guarded the court door.

The security team had wanted to have Hobson handcuffed in the dock, but the judge refused, saying there was no sign that he intended to escape.

Hobson, 35, of New Lane, Selby, showed no reaction, and had sat with head bowed throughout the hour-and-a-half hearing at Leeds Crown Court. He wore a dark suit.

After he had disappeared from view, the High Court judge commended Detective Superintendent Javad Ali, the man who headed the team of 516 officers from 12 forces on the quadruple murder manhunt and investigation; senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Dai Malyn; and Detective Sergeant Stephen Smith of York CID.

Outside court, Det Supt Ali said: "For me, today brings about a conclusion to the most horrendous case I have had to deal with in my 22 years' police service.

"But for the families and loved ones the victims have left behind, today does not bring closure.

"My thoughts are with them."

He described the "life means life" sentence as "totally right and fitting".

In court, Mr Grigson said Hobson had had an "abusive" relationship with Claire Sanderson and when he tired of her had transferred his affections to her twin sister, although Diane was not in love with him.

As Claire "stood in his way", he had battered her to death with a hammer in "as brutal and callous a way as is possible to imagine".

A week later, he lured Diane to the same house in Camblesforth.

"She suffered not only terror and pain, but also sexual humiliation before she died," said the judge.

Hobson went on the run, armed with a knife and the next day killed the defenceless, frail and vulnerable Brittons.

"Their killings were rendered the more sinister because you did not have available then the twisted sexual desire which motivated you to kill Claire and Diane," the judge told Hobson.

Updated: 11:49 Saturday, May 28, 2005