Katie Locke murder: Carl Langdell jailed for life for strangling date and sexually assaulting her dead body

Victim's mother Jennifer told the court: 'Nothing could prepare her for meeting a monster. I shall miss her every minute of every day'

St Albans Crown Court (Google Maps)

A man has received a life sentence for strangling a schoolteacher to death on a date, then sexually assaulting her corpse.

After a two-day sentencing hearing, Carl Langdell, 26, will face at least 26 years in prison for killing Katie Locke, 23.

Langdell murdered the young teacher on their first date at Theobalds Park Hotel in Hertfordshire on Christmas Eve 2015.

Her body was found in a bush near a skip in the hotel's grounds.

Langdell met Ms Locke from Buckhurst Hill, Essex, on a dating website two weeks before the pair met up on December 31.

Judge Andrew Bright QC told Langdell the fact he sexually assaulted her dead body "increased the depravity of the murder", the BBC reports.

Judge Bright added: "I am firmly of the view that you pose a very great danger to women and young girls with whom you come into contact in the future and I note that you have described yourself to others as a monster and a psychopath because of what you did to Katie Locke."

Her mother Jennifer read out a victim impact statement at the hearing: "Nothing could prepare her for meeting a monster. I shall miss her every minute of every day."

Outside the court, Ms Locke's family said she was "trusting, caring and always tried to see the best in everyone which, sadly, has been her downfall".

They added: "For us as a family to realise that any fantasist or predator can lie and publically portray themselves as anything their warped personalities would like is shocking.

"Katie is never coming home. All we can do is warn other young women to be careful in the hope that no other family ever has to go through the pain and trauma we have suffered."