Blunkett to urge US web porn curb

Coutts had claimed Miss Longhurst died during consensual sex

The dangers of violent internet porn sites are to be raised by the Home Secretary David Blunkett in a future meeting with the US Attorney General.

The government is seeking international co-operation to close such websites down following the murder of Brighton special needs teacher Jane Longhurst.

Graham Coutts, 35, was jailed for strangling her to satisfy macabre sexual fantasies after visiting sites.

Mr Blunkett will meet with US Attorney General John Ashcroft during a US trip.

'No complacency'

Junior Home Office Minister Paul Goggins told MPs the government was determined to pursue a global approach.

He was responding to Conservative MP for Bracknell Andrew Mackay, who said: "We daren't be complacent, as we have seen from the recent Graham Coutts murder conviction and also the increase in paedophile sites on international websites."

Mr Goggins assured the Commons there would be "no complacency" in tackling internet pornography.

He said: "What we need is concerted international action, from the government in particular, in order to make sure we have a consistent approach right across the globe."

Mr Blunkett will meet the US Attorney General in the States

A group of Labour MPs has started a campaign for a crackdown on internet sites promoting violence towards women.

Martin Salter, Labour MP for Reading West, tabled a Parliamentary Early Day Motion on the issue earlier this month after meeting Miss Longhurst's mother Liz Longhurst, who is from Reading.

Mrs Longhurst, 72, called for the sites to be banned after Coutts was jailed for life at Lewes Crown Court earlier this month.

Evidence produced during the trial showed Coutts had spent hours viewing violent images before and after killing Miss Longhurst, and again before dumping her body on 19 April, 2003.

Coutts said he had been using the internet to look for images involving asphyxial sex and strangling for about eight years.