Joanne LojkoWILTSHIRE TIMES EXCLUSIVE: THE father of a 15-year-old Trowbridge girl shot dead by her peeping tom stepfather says the tragedy has blighted the lives of the three families involved, and that he has every sympathy for the murderer's family.

Michael Lojko's daughter, Joanne, and her 21-year-old boyfriend Garry Crease died in October after they confronted her abuser, David Carter.

Speaking to the Wiltshire Times after the trial, Mr Lojko said: "I feel very sorry for his family this is three life sentences.

"There is not a lot more I can say. All my friends have rallied round and I would like to say thank you to everyone who has been so supportive at an extremely difficult time."

Carter, 54, killed the couple two days after Joanne spotted him peeping at her through holes he had drilled in the bathroom ceiling. He was jailed for life at Bristol Crown Court this week after pleading guilty to both murders.

The jury was told that since Joanne, her elder sister Nadia and her mother moved from Trowbridge to live with him in Glastonbury two years ago, he had also made an inappropriate video of Nadia while she was asleep.

The jury at Bristol Crown Court heard Carter, who had an arsenal of illegal weapons, killed his victims with a .22 calibre pistol.

Although he had turned in some of his illegal hoard in the gun amnesty following the Dunblane massacre, he kept 20 rounds of .22 ammunition, which he knew was illegal.

On the day of the tragedy Carter rang Joanne Lojko on her mobile and asked her to come home to talk about some problems. Mr Crease accompanied his girlfriend home and a row broke out, during which Carter shot Mr Crease in the head.

Terrified, Miss Lojko fled and locked herself in the bathroom to dial 999 and beg for help.

While she was on the phone a horrified police operator heard Carter break down the door and shoot the hysterical teenager in the throat. Carter later told police that he shot both victims again 'to put them out of their misery'.

Miss Lojko died at the house and Mr Crease died in hospital later that day.

Carter, who had been suffering from cancer of the groin, was described by friends as a kind and thoughtful man. One of his three sons from a previous marriage described him as a model father.

Sentencing him to life in prison, Judge Tom Crowther said: "This violence has amazed everyone who knew him and bewildered him as well.

"He has taken two totally blameless young lives and in doing so ruined his own, and caused the greatest hurt to very many people."