He was responsible for the most twisted and evil of murders.
So why was killer Mark Towell freed to bring more terror to the streets of Tyneside?
Arthur Leak stood no chance of survival when twisted Towell poured five litres of petrol over him and set him alight in 2001.
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The 49-year-old care assistant, who was also known as Lenny, suffered 80% burns to his body and died in the back yard of a derelict house in Felling, Gateshead.
Towell, 46, was jailed for life with a minimum of 15 years for the horror slaying.
But this week it was revealed that he had inflicted yet more fear and misery on an innocent victim just one month after being freed from prison.
Towell left a nurse terrified after climbing through her bedroom window and telling her that he wanted to "lick her all over", a court heard on Tuesday.
The twisted crime was prompted by an infatuation with the woman he developed while he was inside.
Today after the killer was put back behind bars we look back on Towell's terrifying past crime as a victims' campaigner questioned why he was not being monitored more closely.
David Hines, who set up a charity to represent victims after his own daughter was killed, said: "These people are supposed to be monitored but they just go back into society and slip away.
"This guy was obviously a risk to the public and was obviously a risk to that lady."
Innocent Arthur Leak lived in Gateshead with Ann Young, whose daughter Nicola had a relationship with Towell. That relationship ended by the middle of 2001 but Towell was desperate for a reconciliation, a court heard.
Towell developed a deep resentment of Arthur, and after killing him he attempted to claim it had been an accident.
The then 26-year-old was convicted of murder at Newcastle Crown Court.
Widower Arthur had two sons and two daughters. He was originally from the Howdon area of Wallsend but later lived in Pennywell, Sunderland.
Arthur and Ann had been planning to get married when he was killed.
The couple met in 1998, a year after Mr Leak, a father-of-four, lost his wife to cancer. The care assistant had suffered depression as a result of his wife’s death but, after meeting divorcee Ms Young, he had started to rebuild his life. He moved to Gateshead and began working with the elderly at a care home.
After Arthur's death Ann spoke of her devastation at losing her beloved partner in such a horrific way.
She said: "Lenny was my life. I loved him and I still can’t believe this could happen to such a lovely, kind man.”
And she explained how Towell had taken an inexplicable dislike to Arthur in the run up to the murder.
She said: “We had always been kind to Mark and had even let him live with us on and off. But he often threatened Lenny, he just had something against him.
“The last time I spoke to Lenny, he kissed me on the forehead and said he was going to buy me a present, that’s the last time I ever saw him alive.
“Mark Towell is a monster as far as I am concerned. I hope he rots in jail for life for what he’s done.”
A High Court judge ruled Towell must serve a minimum of 15 years behind bars before he could apply for parole.
It was said he would only be freed if he is no longer considered a danger to the public and will remain on life licence.
However, just one month after his release Towell carried out his latest disturbing crime.
Durham Crown Court heard how he entered the home of a nurse, who was in her 50s, on September 11 last year.
The single mum woke up at around 4am and saw a "shadow" at her curtains.
Towell, who was drunk, was attempting to enter her bedroom after climbing onto the roof of the home, where she'd lived for around 30 years.
The court heard that Towell had lived across the road from the woman when he was young, prior to his murder conviction.
The woman had known Towell in passing when he was a teenager, but had "never had a conversation with him" - but she did know he had been sent to prison for murder.
He had been released in August, but had "developed an obsession" with the woman while serving his lengthy sentence.
Chris Baker, prosecuting, said the woman "pressed a panic alarm" and ran downstairs to call the police, but when she returned to her bedroom, Towell was on her floor.
"She screamed and ran into the bathroom, but she was followed by the defendant", he said.
Towell grabbed the woman by both arms and a "scuffle" broke out as he attempted to stop her calling the police.
Hair was torn out of her head during the scuffle, leading the woman to believe she was going to be "raped or murdered".
The woman was so frightened as Towell made "various sexual remarks" and said she was "f****** lovely", the court heard.
Towell "refused to go" and the woman suggested they sit in the lounge in an effort to "keep him calm".
Mr Baker said Towell told the woman he "just wanted to talk to her", and said he had a "crush on her from years ago" and was asking for a relationship.
Towell even said he wanted to "lick her all over" while he was "gesturing doing that".
Mr Baker said that when in prison, Towell had also written a letter to the woman, which left her "flabbergasted" and "uncomfortable".
He said Towell's infatuation began when he saw the woman "wearing a bikini" in her garden when he was around 16 years old.
When police arrived, Towell, of Selkirk Crescent, Birtley, admitted he had "done the wrong thing" and said the incident was "down to emotions".
He denied any sexual intentions and after pleaded guilty to affray was jailed for 30 months.
But Mr Hines believes Towell should have been sent back to jail for life.
He added: "If somebody is out on licence and they breach their licence they should be sent back to prison for the rest of their life sentence but that never happens. There's no real life sentences now."
After Towell, who had a history of domestic violence and mental health problems, was convicted of murder a review was launched by Northumberland, Tyne Wear Strategic Health Authority to examine the care the killer had received.
The inquiry, concluded the murder could not have been anticipated or prevented.
Despite his history of violence, the panel concluded that Towell’s behaviour fell considerably short of any which could have resulted in his compulsory detention under the Mental Health Act.
The unanimous psychiatric opinion in relation to Towell throughout his life was that he was not suffering from a psychiatric disorder.
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