"Evil" sex offender who raped and murdered 10-year old and her mother is jailed for life

• Holly and Diane Fallon were subjected to torture and abuse before being killed by Thomas Smith at his Ayrshire home

Thomas Smith was sentenced to a minimum of 32 years in prison for the attacks on 43-year-old Diane Fallon and her 10-year-old daughter Holly in an Ayrshire village last year.

The former soldier (pictured) lived next door to his victims in the village of Cronberry, near Cumnock. He had invited the mother and daughter to his home to play snooker after they attended a village fete on March 28 last year.

The court heard that Smith, 26, tied his victims up at his home, raped Holly and tortured Mrs Fallon before strangling both women. The bodies were discovered 11 days later at the side of a road near the Lugar River.

Police recovered Holly's diary during the course of the investigation. It included an entry from 28 March, the day the victims were last seen, which read: "Dear diary, I am in Tom's house. My mum and he are playing snooker. I want to play and I hope I can. Love you, Bye."

Smith had been convicted of indecent assault at Teesside Crown Court three years earlier.

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Strathclyde Police have ordered a review into the circumstances surrounding Smith's management as a sex offender.

Detective Chief Superintendent John Mitchell said: "Those present in court today heard the account of two particularly vicious, sexual murders.

"The court clearly took the view of the gravity of these incidents and, as a result, handed down a sentence with a minimum tariff of 32 years to Thomas Bernie Smith.

"This should ensure that the general public are safe from this individual for a very long time."

Mr Mitchell said police had been been made aware of Smith's sex offender history when he moved to their jurisdiction in 2008.