A builder has been given four life sentences after being found guilty of the massacre of four members of the same family.

David Morris, 40, was found guilty of the "horrific and savage" murders of Mandy Power, 34, her disabled 80-year-old mother and her daughters Katie, 10, and Emily, eight.

The jury at Swansea Crown Court heard that he beat them with an iron bar before setting their house ablaze, after divorcee Mrs Power refused his sexual advances following a casual relationship.

South Wales Police have been criticised for the time it took them to arrest Morris, of Craig-cefn-parc in the Swansea Valley, for the 1999 murder.

Morris beat the four to death, then set fire to the house

Passing sentence Mr Justice Butterfield told Morris: "These were horrific murders committed with great savagery in which you inflicted appalling injuries on innocent victims. You've shown not a trace of compassion or sympathy."

Morris showed no emotion as he was led away from the dock, but shouts of abuse could be heard from the public gallery.

The jury had heard how the 27 June 1999 massacre at Kelvin Road, Clydach, south Wales, began when Mrs Power rejected Morris's advances for sex.

Morris: Flew into a rage when his sexual advances were rejected

They heard that Mrs Power had begun a lesbian affair with a former policewoman and did not want to sleep with him again.

Morris flew into a rage and embarked on what the jury heard described as an "orgy of savagery".

Patrick Harrington QC, prosecuting, said Mrs Power alone had been beaten 38 times with the murder weapon.

Doris Dawson was murdered as she lay in bed. Morris then set her body alight.

One of the children's bodies lay on the landing. Another was found in their bedroom, still in a cowering position.

Violent past

Morris was caught after a bloodstained gold necklace, ripped from his neck during the murders, was found in the house by forensic scientists.

Paint found on the jewellery exactly matched paint found on kitchen units at Morris' home.

Alison Lewis is suing police over her arrest

In police interviews, he insisted the chain did not belong to him - only to later change his story and admit it did.

The jury had been told that Mrs Power had spoken about how much Morris frightened her, and had previously been beaten by him.

The trial judge, Mr Justice Butterfield, ruled the jury could be told about Morris's almost two dozen previous convictions for robbery and violence.

Three other people originally arrested over the murders are to sue the force for damages.

About a year after the murders, Mandy Power's lover Alison Lewis was arrested on suspicion of the murders.

Doris Dawson, 80, was killed in her bed

She was held along with her then husband, police sergeant Stephen Lewis, and his brother Inspector Stuart Lewis.

All three were later released without charge.

It was not until March 2001, that South Wales Police confirmed that Morris had been arrested.

Speaking outside the court after Morris's sentencing, Mrs Lewis said she was satisfied justice had been done, but complained about her treatment.

"While standing trial for murder, the judicial system afforded David Morris the luxury of being innocent until proven guilty.

Police sued

"Throughout the trial my rights as an innocent person were neither given nor respected as David Morris's defence team did their utmost to make me look guilty by implication and insinuation," she told reporters.

However, as the police van carrying Morris sped off, some of his friends shouted "the wrong one went in the van".

His sister Deborah said: "We are devastated by the verdict but we are unable to understand the evidence that was presented to the court.

"We are told by David's lawyers that there are good grounds for an appeal. We are confident that justice will prevail."

Mrs Power's brother, Robert Dawson, spoke of the "sheer horror" his family had been through and said the guilty verdict would "never be enough" to relieve their pain and loss, although he was relieved the killer was behind bars.

A special programme on the Clydach murders has been broadcast on BBC One Wales.

Click here to watch the programme on demand.