On a day of high emotions, a packed courtroom watched Peter Chapman admit he had killed Ashleigh Hall.

David Roberts watched the events unfold at Teesside Crown Court.

"IF we can handle the Darwins, we can handle anything”, the court usher said as she directed the countless journalists from across the country to their allotted spaces.

A far cry from the handful of local hacks who usually grace the press benches – Teesside Crown Court was back in the media spotlight.

Tragically, unlike the celebrated canoeist, the deceased party in this case will never make a reappearance.

It seemed fitting that in a court case which revolved around the use of modern technology, live video streaming was employed to relay the events in court to a neighbouring courtroom provided especially to accommodate the extra media contingent.

As the courtroom was opened, the Hall family entered.

Grim-faced in preparation for the mental rigours of a five-day trial, they took their seats. They had come to see justice done.

Finally, it was the turn of Peter Chapman to enter.

Bald, bespectacled and sporting a goatee beard, he looked around the room quizzically.

Andrea Hall, Ashleigh’s mother, refused to look at him and faced forward fixedly.

This was the man who had brought so much pain into her life – who had taken away more than just a daughter, her best friend.

Then, the court clerk announced that an application had been made to put the charges to Chapman again.

There were gasps around the courtroom as what was about to happen registered with those assembled.

“Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty.”

With those four affirmations, Chapman spared the Halls the agony of a protracted trial.

He had admitted the murder, rape and kidnap of their daughter and granddaughter.

It was all too much for Mrs Hall who sobbed as each charge was put to Chapman.

As the sentencing process began, Graham Reeds QC outlined the case for the crown.

While the family no longer had to hear the minutiae of everything that had taken place in the lead-up to their loved one’s death, it was nonetheless a heartrending experience.

At least one family member had to leave the room in tears as Mr Reeds told how Chapman had tricked Ashleigh into believing she was going to meet a handsome teenager.

There was even sharp intakes of breath from hardened journalists as the “wickedness” of Chapman’s plan became apparent. It was the text message that Ashleigh sent to Chapman, who was posing as the father of a 19-year-old-boy called Pete who she was supposed to meet, which drew the biggest display of emotion.

The bitter irony of what was to befall the teenager was too much for some.

When Chapman asked her if it was okay to pick her up, she replied: “No its fine I dnt mind I trust him [Pete] so I trust u and thank u.”

Even his barrister, Andrew Robertson QC, admitted that there was not a lot he could say in mitigation.

Throughout, the majority of the trial Chapman remained impassive. On occasions, he did hold his head in his hands.

However, these crocodile tears did not sway the emotions of the recorder of Middlesbrough, Peter Fox QC.

Nor Mr Robertson’s assertions that his client had shown signs of remorse.

He sentenced Chapman to at least 35 years in prison.

As he was led away a member of the Hall party shouted after him: “Rot in hell, scumbag.”

Those thoughts will no doubt be echoed around Darlington and beyond as the news of the case is broadcast and printed across the country.