MARK HOBSON must serve his "whole life" behind bars the nation's most senior judge ruled today.

The former Selby bin man was jailed for life in May this year at Leeds Crown Court after admitting murdering Claire Sanderson and her sister, Diane, at his flat in Camblesforth, near Selby, plus the brutal murders of pensioners, Joan and James Britton, in Strensall, near York.

The trial judge, Mr Justice Grigson, imposed a "whole life tariff" in his case, meaning that he must spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Despite Hobson's claim that he should have been given credit for his guilty pleas, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, today refused him permission to appeal against the judge's "life means life" order.

Lord Phillips, sitting at London's Court of Appeal, was due to give reasons for his decision this afternoon.

Hobson's counsel, Jeremy Richardson QC, had earlier argued that, however barbaric his crimes, he deserved some credit for admitting the murders.

However, Crown counsel, Paul Worsley QC, said sentencing guidelines made clear there could be no reduction for a guilty plea in a case which was "so awful on its facts".

In reality, Hobson had little choice but to plead guilty given the "overwhelming" evidence against him, added the barrister.

Claire Sanderson, 27, was killed by Hobson at his flat just a week before he lured her sister, Diane, to his home and killed her too. Hobson subjected Diane to a "macabre and bizarre" sexual attack before murdering her.

Hobson had struck his girlfriend, Claire, 17 times with a hammer, then suffocated her at the flat they shared. A week later he slew Diane, before leaving both sisters' bodies wrapped in bin bags, which is how their father discovered them.

The day the bodies were found, Hobson took a cocktail of drink and drugs and walked into the home of Joan and James Britton, at Strensall, near York, where he attacked them with a walking stick and a knife.

While on remand in Wakefield Prison, Hobson told a prison officer he had "never felt better" in his life, and compared life inside to being on Big Brother.

From notes found by police in his flat, it became clear he had planned his first murder at least a week in advance.

His note explained that he wished to kill Claire and then lure Diane to the flat so he could "use and abuse at will" before killing her. On a second note was a list of items needed for his crimes, including bin liners, tape, fly-spray and disinfectant.

Updated: 13:32 Wednesday, November 30, 2005