UPDATE: A serving prisoner branded the "most dangerous man in Sussex" by police officers has been jailed for a minimum of 20 years for the murder of a mother and daughter.

Antony Scrase, 38, pleaded guilty to the murder of Sally-Anne Baxter-Smith and her 14-year-old daughter, Lois, at their Eastbourne home on Friday, July 9.

Mrs Baxter-Smith and her daughter were killed in a fire at their home in Beach Road. Post mortem examinations revealed that they had both died from smoke inhalation.

Two other children, a boy and a girl, managed to escape from the burning building without serious injury in the early hours of September 6 2003.

The inquiry into their murders was reopened last year and has been led by Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Bowles from the Sussex Police Major Crime Branch.

Scrase was arrested and charged with the murders on April 27 this year. He is already a serving prisoner, having received an indeterminate sentence at Hove Crown Court in May 2007, for three counts of assault on a police officer in Eastbourne, in August 2006.

At Lewes Crown Court, shaven-headed Scrase, who has 75 previous convictions, showed no emotion as he was sentenced in front of relatives of the victims.

Judge Mr Justice Keith said Scrase's case was aggravated by the fact that he had set out to kill rather than cause anyone serious harm.

He told him: "The law allows me to pass only one punishment for the crime of murder, and the sentence that I pass is one of life on each of the two counts."

The judge said he was minded to set a minimum term of 24 years but reduced it by four years on account of Scrase's early guilty pleas.

Paying tribute to the victims' friends and family in court, he added: "I hope that the sentencing of Anthony Scrase will now bring a measure of closure, and I know that Sally-Ann and Lois will forever be in your hearts.

"I have no doubt that you would like Scrase to be locked up for the rest of his life but I'm sure that you appreciate that 20 years is the very minimum that Scrase will serve."

Prosecutor Richard Barton said Scrase launched the arson attack "in some misguided belief" that he would satisfy the wishes of his partner, Anna Fitzgerald, who lived two doors down from the fire.

Her former husband, Matthew Pettiford, was in an on-off relationship with Ms Baxter Smith. It was said that he wanted to commit to a more serious relationship but she was reluctant.

Mr Barton said: "The defendant evaded justice for his actions for a number of years and it is only through his confessions to those around him that he has been identified as the perpetrator.

"When confronted with the evidence of these earlier confessions, he finally admitted to the police that he was the killer."

On the evening of Friday September 5, 2003, Ms Baxter Smith, Lois and her sister Rhiannon were at home with a family friend Cheryl Seppings.

Ms Seppings left just before midnight, but her nine-year-old son Jay stayed the night, leaving four people sleeping in the house when the fire broke out.

Mr Barton said that at some time after 5am on September 6 a fire was discovered and by the time anyone became aware of it, the fire had spread through the house.

Jay woke up on a sofa in the living room and crawled to safety through the front door.

Rhiannon, who was in the bedroom at the back of the house, woke up and jumped from her first-floor window. She was caught by neighbours.

However, Ms Baxter Smith and Lois, who were asleep on a double bed on the first floor, did not wake up and were overcome by the fumes.

Despite attempts at resuscitation, they were pronounced dead at Eastbourne District General Hospital later that morning.

Chelsea Wickings, daughter of Sally-Ann and sister of Lois, said outside court: "We have waited seven years to see this man in court to be sentenced. No sentence will ever bring back my mum and sister.

"All the family have suffered over the years and continue to do so.

"Now Scrase is in prison where he belongs, we can get on with our lives with the knowledge of who did it and why."

Following the case, Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Bowles, of Sussex Police's major crime branch, said: "Our determination to establish the truth behind the awful and tragic events of September 6 2003 never wavered over the years.

"Scrase has today been sentenced to life imprisonment.

"The minimum tariff of 20 years reflects the gravity of what he has done. He killed Sally-Ann and her daughter in the early hours of that morning by setting fire to their home.

"This was a dreadful and wicked thing to do and his actions have caused terrible pain and grief to so many people.

"Scrase has been brought to justice following a detailed and complex investigation, and he pleaded guilty in the face of overwhelming evidence."

After the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Bowles said; "Our determination to establish the truth behind the awful and tragic events of 6 September 2003 never wavered over the years. Scrase has today been sentenced to life imprisonment.

"The minimum tariff of 20 years reflects the gravity of what he has done. He killed Sally-Anne and her daughter in the early hours of that morning by setting fire to their home.

"This was a dreadful and wicked thing to do and his actions have caused terrible pain and grief to so many people.

"Scrase has been brought to justice following a detailed and complex investigation, and he pleaded guilty in the face of overwhelming evidence."

"The dignity and patience the family have shown has been an inspiration."