A mother yesterday condemned the "evil stranger" who raped and murdered her beautiful 17-year-old daughter like a "lamb to the slaughter".

But the family of Hannah Foster said they were dismayed Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, 41, would not end his days in prison and could be released after serving a minimum life sentence of 24 years.

Hannah's sister Sarah and mother Hilary, 52, wept while being comforted by father Trevor as a jury of eight men and four women returned unanimous guilty verdicts at Winchester Crown Court for the murder, rape, kidnap and false imprisonment of their "darling little girl".

The "high drama" in the court continued as Jill Lewis, Mrs Foster's sister and Hannah's aunt, read out a victim impact statement which left many jurors in tears.

Speaking Mrs Foster's words, she said: "Hannah will never be the blushing bride, never have children of her own. The sense of loss is unbearable. We are heartbroken and will always remain so."

This emotional scene was the culmination of a five-and-a-half year battle for justice by Hannah's family.

Kohli, a married father of two young boys, snatched the bright A-level student, described as a "young, slip of a girl", who wanted to be a doctor, just yards from her home in Southampton, Hants, on March 14, 2003.