A 'sexual psychopath' originally from Boston has had two years slashed off his minimum jail term.

Paul Beart, who turned 33 on Saturday, was jailed for life in November 2001 for torturing a hotel worker to death in Cornwall.

Beart was told by the Home Secretary in 2002 that he must serve at least 25 years in jail - but that was cut to 23 years.

In a review of the case at London's Royal Courts of Justice, the judge recognised that Beart had been assessed as 'dangerous'. One expert had described him as a 'sexual pyschopath' who fitted 'the classic description of a sadistic murderer'.

Despite this, Mr Justice Plender cut Beart's minimum jail tariff by two years after taking into account his youth at the time of the killing, his guilty pleas, and his co-operation with police.

Beart gave himself up after killing 31-year-old Deborah O'Sullivan, of Manchester, and told police there ought to be the death penalty for people like him.

Beart subjected her to a prolonged ordeal of torture and mutilated her so badly that she was left barely recognisable. She died of her injuries three days after the attack.

When passing sentence on Beart on 2001, Mrs Justice Hallett described him as a 'callous sadist' and a danger to women.

After Beart has served his new 23-year tariff, he will be released if he can convince the Parole Board he poses no serious public danger.

When free, he will remain on a perpetual life sentence, subject to prison recall if he ever transgresses the law again.