Father's tribute to dead daughter

Roy Cameron paid tribute to the memory of his daughter

The father of murdered student Sara Cameron's has paid tribute to his 'beautiful daughter' on the day that her killer was jailed for life.

Michael Robinson, 30, of Newhaven in East Sussex, admitted killing the Northumbria University student near her home in Earsdon on 20 April 2000.

He was jailed for a minimum of 18 years at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday.

Speaking outside the court, Roy Cameron said he and Sara's mother now have all the answers they desperately needed.

He added: "This day was for Sara. Sleep now sweetheart. Your mum and dad will always have the proud memory of our beautiful daughter.

"And because we are parents our hearts go out to the family of this man."

Michael Robinson pleaded guilty at court

The judge at Newcastle Crown Court said Robinson must serve a minimum of 18 years, less the time already spent in custody.

DNA match

He was also placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Robinson, a bus driver, was arrested and charged by Northumbria Police officers earlier this year after DNA taken from the crime scene was matched to him.

He had been drinking with Stagecoach colleagues in Newcastle the night he killed Ms Cameron after they both got off the same Metro train.

He pursued her as she walked home, dragging her through a hedge into a muddy field, around 1,100 yards from the station, the court heard.

He slapped or punched her twice and removed her clothes before trying to rape her.

Simple dispute

Sara Cameron was murdered as she walked home

When he heard a noise from the path nearby, he grabbed her neck and strangled her, the court heard.

After evading capture for almost four years, Robinson was finally caught because of a simple dispute with a neighbour last year in North Shields.

As a matter of routine, officers took a DNA swab from his mouth which a year later showed up as a match on the national database with semen found on Sara Cameron's body.

During that period, Robinson had moved to the south coast.

But Northumbria Police traced him and he was arrested on 13 February 2004.