'Clockwork Orange' killer jailed

Linda Grimm died after being hit with an electric guitar

A man obsessed with the violent book and film A Clockwork Orange has been given two life sentences for murdering two partners 13 years apart.

Peter Foster, from Albion Terrace, in Bridlington, Yorkshire, was also given a total of 22 years in prison for seven counts of false imprisonment, kidnap and assaults on other women over a 26-year period.

Hull Crown Court was told Foster enjoyed dressing up like Alex DeLarge - the leader of a thuggish gang in A Clockwork Orange.

Both women died from blows to the stomach which, according to the prosecution, replicated the blow Alex DeLarge gave to a woman he murdered in the 1971 film.

In a letter to a judge, Foster admitted he was "a miserable excuse for a human being".

But during the trial he had sought to deny the offences.

The women said he dressed up in clothing from A Clockwork Orange Det Supt Colin Andrews

It took the jury three-and-a-half-hours to convict Foster of all the charges against him.

These included the murder of Linda Grimm, 38, in July 1989 and Linda Wardill, 45, in December 2002.

Foster, who was a fairground worker, beat his partners to death - wielding an electric guitar to hit Linda Grimm.

Post-mortem evidence

The judge, Mr Justice Henriques, told Foster he was a very dangerous man and cruel to children and would be staying in prison for many years.

Foster left the dock clutching a bible which was the book Alex DeLarge read in prison.

Speaking after the case, Detective Superintendent Colin Andrews, of Humberside Police, said that because of incorrect post-mortem evidence in 1989 Foster had "literally got away with murder."

He added: "His offending goes back to 1968, but his violent offending goes back to 1973."

"He did have an interest in martial arts.

"The women said he dressed up in clothing from A Clockwork Orange."