Murderer driven by 'darker forces'

Darren Cornelius handcuffed 16-year-old Gemma Clarke in his car one night last February before stabbing her to death.

Cornelius, 33, worked at the Nag's Head pub in Martock near Yeovil, where Gemma was a kitchen assistant.

Cornelius, from Shepton Beauchamp near Yeovil, admitted a charge of murder at Bristol Crown Court, on Friday morning.

Prosecuting, Richard Smith QC said on the night of 27 February the pair had chatted after work and Cornelius talked about his desire to join the "magic circle".

He told Gemma he wanted her to be his assistant and claimed he had a trick lined up that involved the use of handcuffs, said Mr Smith.

Gemma left the pub about 10 minutes before Cornelius, but the two were seen driving away together in his car, the court heard.

Mr Smith said what happened after that only Cornelius knew.

Gemma's body was found the following morning in a lane in nearby West Lambrook.

A post-mortem examination revealed she had been stabbed six times with a nine-inch knife and had strangulation marks around her neck.

Cornelius was arrested in London the same day.

Police later found blood and the handcuffs in Cornelius' car and his mother found Gemma's underwear in his room.

Cornelius had told police he had embraced and kissed Gemma in his car and suggested something had gone wrong.

Sentencing Cornelius to life imprisonment, Mr Justice Kay told him: "You were driven by more sinister and darker forces than you have been prepared to admit."

He said there was no doubt that Cornelius had meant to kill Gemma, and that it would be a very long time before he could be recommended for release.