Stuart Hazell has been jailed for a minimum of 38 years after he was given a life sentence for murdering schoolgirl Tia Sharp.
The 37-year-old originally denied killing the youngster and hiding her body in the loft of the home he shared with her grandmother in New Addington, south London.
However, he changed his plea to guilty in a dramatic turn of events at the Old Bailey.
Passing sentence, judge Mr Justice Nicol told Hazell: "Tia was a sparky girl, full of life. You took that life."
He said: "Your guilty plea has come very late. It follows a wholly fictitious account of Tia falling downstairs and breaking her neck."
Hazell sat forward in his seat and stared intently, as the judge told him there was "no doubt" he had developed a sexual interest in Tia.
There was "no pathological evidence" she had been sexually assaulted, he said, although "it cannot be discounted".
"I cannot say for certain that there was a sexual motive for the killing," the judge added. "It is not a case where a whole life tariff can be imposed."
Tia's body was found wrapped in bin bags and a sheet in the loft of her grandmother's home in New Addington, south London, last August.
Witness statements read in court described the torment Tia's family endured after learning Hazell had killed her.
Tia's mother, Natalie Sharp, said she has "so many questions" for Hazell, adding: "Sometimes I feel pity. Sometimes I want to hurt him."
Meanwhile, Tia's father, Steven Carter, said Hazell should be hanged for killing his daughter. "In my opinion (a prison sentence) will not be enough," he told reporters outside court.
The 37-year-old originally denied killing the youngster and hiding her body in the loft of the home he shared with her grandmother in New Addington, south London.
However, he changed his plea to guilty in a dramatic turn of events at the Old Bailey.
Passing sentence, judge Mr Justice Nicol told Hazell: "Tia was a sparky girl, full of life. You took that life."
He said: "Your guilty plea has come very late. It follows a wholly fictitious account of Tia falling downstairs and breaking her neck."
Hazell sat forward in his seat and stared intently, as the judge told him there was "no doubt" he had developed a sexual interest in Tia.
There was "no pathological evidence" she had been sexually assaulted, he said, although "it cannot be discounted".
"I cannot say for certain that there was a sexual motive for the killing," the judge added. "It is not a case where a whole life tariff can be imposed."
Tia's body was found wrapped in bin bags and a sheet in the loft of her grandmother's home in New Addington, south London, last August.
Witness statements read in court described the torment Tia's family endured after learning Hazell had killed her.
Tia's mother, Natalie Sharp, said she has "so many questions" for Hazell, adding: "Sometimes I feel pity. Sometimes I want to hurt him."
Meanwhile, Tia's father, Steven Carter, said Hazell should be hanged for killing his daughter. "In my opinion (a prison sentence) will not be enough," he told reporters outside court.
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