A known Latvian sex attacker who raped and murdered a popular A-level student in west London will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Viktor Dembrovskis, 43, dragged Jeshma Raithatha into bushes near her family home in Greenford before he stabbed her over and over in the heart.

The car wash attendant served time for two rapes in Latvia before he was allowed to live in UK since 2004. Like Jeshma, he assaulted them at knifepoint, the court heard.

"We have to ask how and why this came about," the teenager's family said today. "What checks were made about his background before he was allowed to set foot on British soil?"

An Old Bailey jury unanimously convicted Dembrovskis on two counts of rape and murder. The judge sentenced him to three life terms and imposed a whole life tariff.

Den used by drunks

Three days before Jeshma's 18th birthday, the Latvian grabbed her as she took her usual shortcut home across woodlands near Sudbury Hill Tube station.

He strangled her until she lost consciousness before pulling her into a den in the undergrowth used by drunks. Unseen by passers-by, he raped her.

Then he stabbed her to death so that she would not recognise him.

Jeshma only managed to scratch his face and neck as she fought in vain for her life.

When her body was found eight days later, Dembrovskis had been out of the country for almost a week. He bought a one-way ticket to Latvia, where he was found in his hometown of Livani.

No remorse

The blood-stained jacket he wore during the attack was found in his rented room in Dimmock Drive, a stone's throw from both Jeshma's home and the scene of her death. Holiday snaps traced by a newspaper showed him dressed in the same blue fleece jacket.

Jeshma's jewellery was wrapped inside the garment. Blood on both the jewellery and the jacket matched her DNA, while Dembrovskis's skin was found beneath her fingernails.

In his haste to escape, the 43-year-old also left his house keys with her body.

"Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Dembovskis has fought the case all the way," said Detective Inspector John Crossley, the investigating officer.

"DNA samples placed Dembovskis at the scene, with a one in a billion chance that he did not commit these terrible crimes. He has never, at any time, displayed remorse for his actions."

Jeshma's family told of the "vibrant and fun-loving" girl's love for music. "Her ambition was to become a music therapist so that she could use her musical talent to help others," they said in a statement.

'Precious angel'

When Dembrovskis took the life of their "precious angel", he also destroyed four other lives, they added.

"For a parent to outlive a child is against the law of nature, and to have a child taken away in such a cruel manner is beyond comprehension."

Jeshma's younger brother and sister struggle to make sense of losing "not only a sister, but a friend and a mentor".

On the day of her death, Jeshma left Claremont High School in Kenton to go shopping in Wembley. Her last hours were captures on CCTV as she bought a top at Primark.

"Although the family is relieved that justice has been done, Jeshma can't be brought back," her parents said. "Our loss is forever."

Commenting on the conviction, assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said: " This was a terrible murder of an innocent young lady in the prime of her life, who had a future ahead of her.

"The gaping hole that this has left in the lives of her family will never be filled.

"I thank the officers for relentlessly and painstakingly pursuing this case and bringing this man to justice. I also extend my thanks to the Latvian and Lithuanian communities in London and in Latvia for the assistance they have given in this case."