A multiple paedophile killer brought to justice 30 years after the Babes in the Wood murder of two young playmates should stay in jail until he dies, the children's relatives said last night.

Ronald Jebson, 62, described by the judge as a ''truly wicked and perverted man'', was given two life sentences at the Old Bailey yesterday for sexually abusing and murdering Gary Hanlon, 12, and Susan Blatchford, 11, in 1970.

Jebson only confessed to killing them decades later while serving another life sentence for the murder of an eight-year-old girl.

Gary and Susan's mothers, Mrs Beryl Hanlon and Mrs Muriel Blatchford, were near to tears as they sat in court yesterday and heard Jebson's description of their children's last moments of life read out.

Their children's decomposed bodies were found months later covered in twigs in a bird-watchers hide on the fringes of Epping Forest. The cause of death could not be ascertained and no-one was charged.

The mystery was finally resolved yesterday when grey-bearded, pony-tailed Jebson pled guilty to their murders on a date between March and June, 1970.

Sentencing Jebson, Judge David Stokes told him: ''Thirty years ago you abducted, sexually assaulted, and brutally murdered two young children.

''What they went through before they died does not bear thinking about. The only point on your behalf is that you finally owned up to what you did, which caused a small degree of comfort to their close relatives who are here to see justice done. You are a truly wicked and perverted man.''

Jebson showed no emotion as he was led to cells. He had shown none throughout the hearing, despite claiming his conscience had driven him to confess.

Police believe that Jebson, a manipulative loner, would kill again if ever released. His victim Gary's sister, Sharon Meager, said after the case: ''I appeal to Jack Straw to never release this monster into society.''

Her mother Beryl, 66, said: ''Gary's death has destroyed my family. Jebson has not served a life sentence - we have. He should never come out. I am glad he cannot touch anyone else's child.''

Susan's mother, frail Muriel Blatchford, 79, said her pain was renewed when her daughter's coffin was dug up as part of the police reinvestigation last year.

She said: ''It brought it all back. To me she was a special girl.''

After confessing, Jebson refused to accompany police into the area where he sexually abused and killed his victims - leaving them huddled side by side - because he was superstitious, the court heard.

Their bodies were found on June 17, 1970.

Four years later - their deaths unsolved - Jebson was sentenced to life at St Albans Crown Court for another paedophile murder - of the eight-year-old daughter of a friend. He took his evil secret of the other murders to jail with him.

Jebson - known then as Ronald Harper - had picked up Rosemary Papper from school, bought her sweets and raped her before strangling her with a piece of twine in a field in Hertfordshire.

He had been staying with Rosemary's parents in Hatfield on and off. Her father had asked him to leave the day before she died.

It was not until 1996 that Jebson gave the first indication to a prison officer that he knew about the other murders.

The chronology of Jebson's paedophile history started in December, 1968 when he was jailed for two years for indecently assaulting a six-year-old girl. He had gone into her bedroom while she was asleep.

Jebson was offered help while in prison but rejected it.