A MAN who murdered his teenage girlfriend in a "wholly motiveless attack" and then buried her body in a park will spend at least 20 years behind bars.

John Davis, 26, carried out a "brutal and prolonged attack" on Hazel North in his flat in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, in March.

The 19-year-old from Dunfermline in Fife had last contacted her family around three weeks before her body was discovered.

Davis admitted murdering her when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.

The court heard how, after going on the run in a failed attempt to join the French Foreign Legion, Davis eventually went to Kilmarnock police station and told detectives Miss North was buried in the town's Dean Park.

Passing sentence yesterday, judge Lady Rae told him: "You destroyed a young woman's life while she was in her prime and you have caused indescribable suffering to her family. In addition, from the information available, this was a wholly motiveless attack.

"After murdering and burying Miss North, you chose to disappear for a period. Despite widespread publicity and an appeal by her family, you made no attempt to assist with providing information as to the whereabouts of the young woman's body. Indeed you lied to her family as late as March 21 about her whereabouts."

Lady Rae told Davis he must have caused Miss North's family "untold suffering" as they did now know whether she was alive or dead during that time.

In a statement later issued by the Judiciary of Scotland, she said Davis had a significant record of previous convictions and a "considerable propensity for violence".

He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 20 years before he is eligible for parole.