Man convicted of abducting Lucie

Lucie Blackman was found dead near Tokyo in 2001

A Tokyo businessman has been convicted of abducting the British bar hostess Lucie Blackman.

Last year, Joji Obara was acquitted of killing the 21-year-old of Sevenoaks, Kent, but the Tokyo High Court now says he did kidnap her in Tokyo in 2000.

He was also convicted of dismembering her body and concealing it in a cave.

The 56-year-old businessman's sentence will remain unchanged as he was given a life sentence last year for raping nine other women, one of whom died.

Last year, a Japanese court cleared Obara of raping and killing Ms Blackman, a former air hostess.

A judge said there was no proof Obara alone was responsible for her death.

At the time, Lucie's mother, Jane Steare, said she was heartbroken and in disbelief at the verdict.

On Tuesday, the High Court dismissed that ruling and said that although there was not sufficient evidence to convict Obara of murder, he had mutilated and concealed Ms Blackman's body.

"His action of damaging and abandoning her body was ruthless and did not even give the slightest consideration to her dignity," said Judge Hiroshi Kadono.

It still leaves a bitter taste in the mouth Tim Blackman, father of Lucie Profile of 'beast' who killed

"The court believes the defendant kidnapped her with the intention of drugging and raping her, but the court could not prove he made her pass out by using chloroform or that he carried out his intentions."

Upholding Obara's life sentence, the judge added: "There is no room for any leniency as the defendant trampled on the rights of many victims to fulfil his desires."

Mrs Steare was in court to hear the verdict and afterwards she told reporters "justice had been done".

"This has been a harrowing ordeal, not just for today, but for over eight years," she said.

"But at last we have two guilty verdicts and a life sentence for the crimes Obara committed against my wonderful Lucie."

Mrs Steare said she would leave it up to prosecutors whether to appeal the not guilty verdict over her daughter's murder.

'Condolence payment'

Ms Blackman's father Tim, who lives on the Isle of Wight, said he was delighted with the verdict.

Lucie Blackman's mother, Jane Steare: 'It has been a harrowing ordeal'

"Although the result is not the absolute decision we had hoped for it is still an obvious recognition of guilt," he said.

"After such a long time it is clear that it was necessary for this protracted process [to happen] to get any degree of result and some form of justice for Lucie, but it still leaves a bitter taste in the mouth."

In 2006, Mr Blackman accepted a "condolence payment" of 100 million yen (£450,000) from a friend of Obara.

"People assume that it gets easier as each year goes by, but actually it gets worse each Christmas," he said.

"Every year brings it home that Lucie is not with us to share this happy time."

Ms Blackman's sister, Sophie, also welcomed the verdict.

"It is not important exactly what he was charged with - what matters is that he is finally taking responsibility after all this time," she said.