A double killer who sexually abused the bodies of more than 100 women and girls in hospital mortuaries has been sentenced for further depraved acts.

David Fuller, 68, is already serving two whole life sentences for the murders of Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, in two separate attacks in Tunbridge Wells, in 1987.

But today Fuller was also sentenced at the Old Bailey for further charges relating to sexual offences committed in a mortuary setting.

After being linked to the murders in 2020, police uncovered the systematic sexual abuse of the corpses of females aged between nine and 100 at the now-closed Kent and Sussex Hospital and the Tunbridge Wells Hospital, in Pembury, where he had worked in maintenance since 1989.

An examination of Fuller’s computer hard drive at his home in Heathfield, East Sussex, revealed 818,051 images and 504 videos of his abuse as well as evidence of his “persistent interest in rape, abuse and murder of women”.

At the same time as pleading guilty to the murders, Fuller was given concurrent sentences totalling 12 years in respect of sexual offences against 78 deceased females at mortuaries in Tunbridge Wells Hospital and at the former Kent and Sussex Hospital.

Since then, a Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate investigation has provided evidence of a further 23 victims, making a total of 101 deceased females abused in these mortuary settings, between 2005 and 2020.

Today, Fuller appeared at the Old Bailey, in connection with these further victims.

He was sentenced to four more years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing the bodies of 23 more women aged between 45 and 92 – 10 of whom have never been identified.

They include 12 counts of sexual penetration of a corpse and four counts of possession of extreme pornography between 2007 and 2020.

During the sentencing hearing, relatives of some of the victims expressed their anger and devastation.

The daughter of a ward sister who was abused after her death spoke in court of her “absolute disgust” at Fuller’s actions, describing him as a “monster”.

She said her mother did not want to die in hospital and the family declined a post-mortem examination because she had been subjected to enough “prodding and poking” during her illness.

On finding out about the abuse, she said: “The pain and emotional upset seared through my body like a knife.

"He took advantage of her helplessness in death where we were unable to protect her.”

Addressing the defendant in the dock, she said: “David, I want you to know how much damage you have caused, how your sick and twisted behaviour has damaged families like mine.

“I’m pleased you are now being held accountable for what you did only seven hours after she died.”

A father said he could not put into words how “disturbing” it was to find out what happened to his daughter at Fuller’s hands.

The brother of another victim said: “He has caused complete and utter devastation.

“David Fuller has tainted every single memory I have of my sister. All I can think of is what he did to my sister when she was supposed to be resting.”

The Honourable Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb QC said: '"Among those you abused were women who had lived fulfilling lives. They did not lose their dignity until you took it from them."

She also described the offences as an "astonishing breach of trust", that he had "no regard for the dignity of the dead" and "shown no evidence of genuine remorse".

Det Supt Ivan Beasley added: "Our absolute and unequivocal priority from day one has been ensuring justice for every single victim violated by Fuller’s systematic and unimaginably depraved offending.

"Today’s sentencing will mean little to this abhorrent individual, who throughout our investigation has demonstrated no remorse and only a capacity for self-pity.

"His crimes have led to immeasurable suffering and inconceivable trauma to the lives of hundreds of daughters, sons, parents and other loved ones of all those he abused.

"This has been an unparalleled investigation for Kent Police in terms of the scale and unique challenges faced by our officers and staff.

"I’m immensely proud of their collective determination to ensure no stone remained unturned and that every conceivable enquiry and fragment of information connected to Fuller, stretching back more than 40 years, has been fully investigated.

'I hope all those affected by Fuller’s crimes can take some comfort, knowing that he will spend the rest of his life in prison'

"There is no evidence to connect him to any further mortuary offences and I do hope that now these enquiries have finally drawn to a close that all those affected by Fuller’s crimes can take some comfort, knowing that he will spend the rest of his life in prison."

Last week it emerged families of victims who were abused by Fuller are to receive compensation from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

A number have suffered psychologically after hearing of the horrific events their family member went through.

An independent inquiry to investigate the wider circumstances of the offending of Fuller is ongoing and is due to report in early 2023.