SICK killer Aaron Campbell is appealing his life sentence for the rape and murder of six-year-old Alesha MacPhail.

The “calculating and remorseless” teenager was locked up for at least 27 years as he admitted the crime last month.

Campbell snatched Alesha from her bed as she slept at her grandparents’ home on the Isle of Bute last summer.

READ MORE: Alesha MacPhail's Airdrie mum vows to carry on her memory

He was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow in February where a jury found him guilty unanimously following a nine-day trial.

Campbell finally admitted the crime in a psychological report prepared ahead of his sentencing in March.

His brazen appeal comes as relatives of little Alesha last night posted a heart-rending message on Facebook following her tragic death.

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Sharing on a tribute page dedicated to Alesha, the family said: "On July 2, 2018 the world woke to the name Alesha MacPhail when news broke that Alesha has disappeared from her bed.

"Just hours after the news broke a 6 year old Alesha’s body was found. Alesha MacPhail had been abducted from her bed, raped and murdered.

"It was later discovered that a 16-year-old male was responsible for Alesha’s death.

"Alesha had been visiting her father and his family on the Isle of Bute when she disappeared."

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The post continued: "Alesha’s mother Georgina found out this heartbreaking news regarding her first born daughter through a social media platform, Facebook.

"This page is here to remember Alesha and build her a forever legacy.

"This page stands not to dwell on the events that ended Alesha’s life but to remember and honour Alesha for her personality, character and her love for people and things."