Mark Dixie has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering Sally Anne Bowman.

The chef will spend a minimum of 34 years behind bars before he is eligible for parole.

Model and hairdresser Sally Anne, 18, was stabbed to death outside her home in Blenheim Crescent, South Croydon, in September 2005.

Mark Dixie, 37, was arrested in July 2006 at the Ye Olde Six Bells pub in Horley where he worked as a chef.

During the three-week trial, Dixie denied the charge. He claimed he found Miss Bowman dead and had sex with the corpse after a drink and drugs binge.

Miss Bowman's family cheered as the verdict was delivered by the jury foreman at the Old Bailey.

Sally Anne's dad pays tribute to his daughter

Dixie showed no trace of emotion other than a slight shake of his head as he stared coldly into the distance.

Sally Anne's dad, Paul, said: "The last two-and-a-half years have been torturously painful and immensely difficult and I do not think we could have got through it without the love and support that has been hugely available from family and friends.

"I hope that now Sally Anne can rest in peace and those affected so deeply by her untimely and brutal death can be afforded at least the chance to begin to grieve in earnest.

"Sally Anne, you may have been taken from us but rest assured you will forever be missed and never forgotten.

"In the words of the song, ''Your heart will go on.'"

Previous convictions

Dixie had a string of previous convictions for sex offences. Detectives believe he may have targeted other women while living in Australia in the 1990s.

Dixie said he came across Sally Anne lying in front of a house in Blenheim Crescent.

He said he thought she was passed out, not dead, because he "didn't expect to see someone dead in that street".

Dixie told the court he had gone walking early in the morning because he knew a drug dealer living nearby.

When the dealer was not home, Dixie walked along Blenheim Crescent towards where he was staying when he saw Sally Anne's legs.

He said he saw her genitalia as her skirt was up above her waist and that he took advantage of her.

He said he had sexual intercourse with Sally Anne and put concrete in her mouth and vagina afterwards in a bid to hide his DNA evidence.

Dixie was brought to justice for Sally Anne's murder by chance when he was arrested nine months after her murder following a minor scuffle over a World Cup football match.

His DNA was taken and matched to the murder when it was put on the police national computer 12 days later.

Dixie's refusal to admit his crime also meant two previous victims had to give evidence against him, reliving attacks he carried out years before.

For more information on how the police caught Dixie click here