A CRAZED sex killer dubbed the "Rochdale Ripper" has been jailed for life after murdering a retired schoolteacher hours after she attended a college reunion in Warrington.

Michael Hardacre, 24, was last week given concurrent jail sentences totalling 146 years after a jury found him guilty of a catalogue of horrific crimes - including murder, rape, robbery, indecent assault and grievous bodily harm - against four women over a four-month reign of terror.

Murder victim Eileen Jawczak, 65, was walking home from her local pub just hours after attending a college reunion party in Warrington when Hardacre pounced.

The monster grabbed her just 50 yards from her home in Deeplish, near Rochdale in Greater Manchester, and slashed her eyes with a knife before stamping on her face, smashing her jaw. He finally strangled Mrs Jawczak with a pair of tights, ripped off her underwear and robbed her of her rosary beads and wedding ring. Her body was found later when her 79-year-old husband John sounded the alarm that she was missing.

The first victim of Hardacre's evil rampage was attacked in June last year on her way to work.

Hardacre stabbed her in the shoulder with a broken bottle and dragged her into a railway tunnel before he raped her, committed another serious sexual offence, tied her up and stole her handbag.

Two months later he attacked a 58-year-old in a subway - punched her, indecently assaulted her and then stole her valuables.

And just days after he murdered Mrs Jawczak in September, he slashed, raped and robbed a barmaid, leaving her in a pool of blood.

DNA evidence, a footprint on the face of Mrs Jawczak, a palm print in the blood of the last victim and fibres from his coat all linked him to the horrendous crimes.

Hardacre told police he suffered regular blackouts and could not remember whether he had staged the attacks.

Victims' relatives shouted "monster" as he was sentenced and Mr Justice Sachs told him: "Sitting here it never ceases to amaze me the depravity to which human beings can stoop. You have brought it to a new level."

In a statement, the family of Mrs Jawczak said: "We are very pleased with the verdict and would like to take this opportunity to thank Rochdale police who have worked extremely hard in order to bring this person to justice."