BODY-IN-THE-BATH killer Stephen Loft has been sent to Rampton - without anyone ever telling his victim's parents, the Evening Press can reveal today.

Loft was jailed for life in 1990 for slashing, burning, stabbing and suffocating William Birnie, before setting the body alight in a bath at Mr Birnie's home in Brunswick Street, South Bank, York. The court had been told Birnie was "tormented if not tortured" by Loft before his death.

Mr Birnie's parents believed Loft was still serving a life sentence in prison until the Evening Press discovered he was discharged from jail and sent to Rampton top-security psychiatric hospital more than three years ago.

His father, retired York butcher Bill Birnie, who now lives near Hovingham in Ryedale, says he should have known about the transfer, which could have implications for any decision on when, or whether, to eventually release Loft back into society.

Under the Victims' Charter, introduced in 1996, murder victims' families have the right to keep track of the offender's progress through the prison system.

For example, they can be told when prisoners may be moved to an open prison or released from prison, or if prisoners are about to have their case reviewed by the Parole Board.

But the charter does not apply to killers sent by the courts to secure psychiatric hospitals, or to murderers discharged from prison and sent to hospital.

However, the Home Office says this has now been recognised as a loophole which is set to be tightened up.

"A victim is still a victim, whether or not the offender is a prisoner or a patient," said a spokeswoman.

She added that while each issue would still be dealt with case-by-case, it was "probable" that victims' relatives would be informed in future when an offender was transferred from prison to hospital.

She said that patients whose condition improved were usually sent back to prison before release, when the normal Victim's Charter consultation would take place with relatives.

Mr Birnie said: "There should not be any loopholes. We should have been told."

He said he supported capital punishment for such offences.

"In its absence, life should mean life."

He believed Loft had been given a 25-year tariff but he was concerned about someone else being hurt if he was ever released.

"With something as horrific as this, they should never let them out. Society should not even contemplate it."

A member of Loft's family was contacted by the Evening Press but declined to comment.