THE 16-year-old schoolboy who murdered Alesha MacPhail has finally admitted his crimes and been sentenced.

Aaron Campbell had repeatedly denied that he abducted, raped and killed the six-year-old on the Isle of Bute last July.

However, his lawyer today told the High Court in Glasgow that Campbell had admitted the crimes.

The judge passed a life sentence and set a minimum of 27 years before he could be considered for release.

Evil Campbell had previously claimed he'd never met his victim.

He even lodged a special defence naming the 18-year-old girlfriend of Alesha's father as the killer.

The teenager was unanimously found guilty of the crimes by a jury after a nine-day trial last month.

Campbell's confession was contained in a background report compiled by social workers and the criminal psychologist's report.

His defence QC, Brian McConnachie said: "Clearly the most striking thing about both reports is the fact that in the reports Mr Campbell has admitted responsibility for the rape and murder."

Mr McConnachie said background reports on Campbell highlighted a range of psychotic traits and expressed concerns about 'sexually harmful behaviour'.

Mr McConnachie said there were absolutely no mitigating factors for his client's crimes.

Following his conviction last month, the judge, Lord Matthews, lifted a restriction on naming the teenager and said: "I can't think of a case in recent times that has attracted such revulsion."

Alesha, from Airdrie in Lanarkshire, was just days into a holiday when she was abducted from her bed.

She was reported missing from her grandparents' home on Ardbeg Road in Rothesay, in the early hours of July 2 last year.

Her body was later found in the grounds of a former hotel.

A post-mortem examination later revealed she had suffered 117 injuries and died from significant pressure being applied to her face and neck.

Campbell, who lived on the same street, was arrested after his mother had contacted the police after looking at CCTV footage captured by cameras outside her home.