Mario Celaire National Pictures / Steve Terrell

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A VIOLENT footballer was given two life sentences today after he admitted killing his ex-girlfriend - seven years after being cleared of the crime.

Mario Celaire, 31, was told he must serve a minimum term of eight years after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Cassandra McDermott.

He was given a concurrent life term with at least 23 years for the attempted murder of Kara Hoyte, another ex-girlfriend, in a hammer attack six years later.

The former Maidstone United player was cleared in 2002 over the death of Miss McDermott, 19, whom he beat unconscious and left to choke on an undigested Chinese takeaway.

But the verdict was later quashed on appeal under new double jeopardy laws.

The Old Bailey heard that it was the first case under the new rules in which a defendant who has previously been acquitted by a jury has been convicted.

It was the "remarkable" courage of Hoyte, who was left brain-damaged after Celaire attacked her, that helped bring him to justice for both crimes, the court was told.

She gave an account to police and family using "writing, drawing and gestures" despite appalling injuries that left her paralysed and severely mentally disabled.

There was loud applause and a shout of "rot in hell" in court today as Celaire, a convicted rapist with a history of violence against women, was jailed.

Judge Paul Worsley told Celaire, of Sydenham, south-east London: "You present a very real and continuing danger to young women with whom you enter into a close relationship."

The judge said Celaire had waited until the very last minute to plead guilty to see if the evidence of Hoyte would stand up to scrutiny.

He told him: "Your delay in admitting these charges so long after the offences had been committed was callous and calculating.

"In the case of Cassandra's family, they no longer have the joy of seeing her progress through life.

"In the case of Kara, her family have the heartache of a life forever changed.

"Both girls were vulnerable. They were alone, they trusted you, they let you into their homes where they thought they were safe and you showed them no mercy."

He said his lies about Miss McDermott's death had "cruelly" left her family - who were in court - without the certainty of what happened to her.

Hoyte, who was also there, was on the verge of tears during the sentencing hearing as she held hands with her mother Eunice Lander, who comforted and kissed her as harrowing details about the case were read out.

The judge said a report about Celaire ahead of the sentencing had revealed his "desire to remain in control" of any relationships.

A psychiatrist had said he had "significant egotistical and narcissistic elements to his personality" and had made "lengthy and persistent attempts to avoid responsibility for offences of the utmost seriousness", he added.