Life should mean life - that is a call being made after the sentencing of a serial sex attacker who could be free in 10 years despite being given a life sentence.

Clive Howard, 57, was described by Judge Stephen Holt as 'every woman's living nightmare' before being jailed for life with a minimum term of 10 years and three months at Norwich Crown Court.

It came after Howard, 57, admitted a totalof 11 offences against six women across the East of England, including the rape of a student in a Norwich car park in May last year.

The victim, Jessica Howard, who is no relation to her attacker, bravely waived her right to anonymity to describe the devastating impact the rape has had on her and the rest of her family.

The UEA student described how the rape, on May 30 last year, had 'made it impossible' for her to 'enjoy moments of happiness' and said the attack 'literally darkens every piece of joy I have'.

But despite being given a life term of imprisonment and although he has been assessed as being a high risk of serious harm to women, Howard, who was given credit for his guilty pleas, could potentially be out on the streets in a little over a decade -if he is granted release by the parole board.

That is something which will not only fill his victims with fear but has also caused concern among people in a community which is still rocking from the revalation there had been a serial sex attacker targeting women in the refgion for almost 30 years.

Norfolk's police and crime commissioner Stephen Bett said: 'Judges have to do what they see fit within the parameters they are allowed but in my view if it was up to me, which it isn't, and there were no guidelines then life would mean life and they would never come out.

'Someone like that (Howard) as far as I'm concerned, and its my personal opinion, I would lock him in jail and throw the key away and he wouldn't come out and that's my view on people like that - you just want to get rid of them.'

Mr Bett, who has made victims of crime a priority during his time as commissioner, said he had 'every sympathy' with victims of Howard but at the same time could not and would not criticise Judge Stephen Holt.

He said: 'I wouldn't have a go at the judge because they have to do what they are allowed to do and that's it. I don't blame judges for the decisions they have to make because a lot of it is now prescribed.'

Chloe Smith, Conservatie candidate for Norwich North, said: 'I'm glad to see the rapist has received a life sentence which I would hope he would serve. I'm keen to see tougher sentencing for dangerous criminals.'

She added: 'I think this case highlights that we need to do more to support victims and in this case would obviously expect the parole board to reflect very carefully on what Miss Howard has said before making any decision on Mr Howard's future.'

Brandon Lewis, minister for housing and planning in department for housing and local government, said: 'When lives have been devastated in this way victims and their friends and families will understandably expect to see the served sentence be more like life than 10years. In just 10 years people will still be potentially re building their lives from the wreckage this sort of crime can create.'

A spokesman for the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, said they would not comment on a judge's decision in a case other than to state that judges sentence according to the facts and the law applying to each case and within the sentencing guidelines.

He said with the sentence being life with a minimum term of 10 years and three months, it does not mean the offender would be released at that point but was the earliest point at which he could be considered for release.

The spokesman added: 'Individuals who feel that a sentence is too lenient can apply to the Attorney General to take the sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

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