A FORMER North-East student dubbed the "limbs in the loch" killer has today failed to overturn his conviction for murdering and dismembering a teenager.

William Beggs, 46, was convicted in 2001 of murdering 18-year-old Barry Wallace in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, after sexually assaulting him. He was jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 20 years.

The former Teesside Polytechnic student's appeal got under way last September, in which he argued the trial which saw him convicted of the December 1999 killing was unfair and that he was a victim of a miscarriage of justice.

The grounds of appeal included claims that he was denied a fair hearing because of ''prejudicial'' publicity before and during the high-profile case.

But today three senior judges at the Appeal Court in Edinburgh ruled that his appeal against conviction should be refused.

Beggs at his trial was previously convicted of murder while a student in the region in 1987, but that was subsequently overturned on appeal.

After the 2001 trial, Beggs was described as a "predatory homosexual" and was also placed on the sex offenders' register after a jury ruled he had sexually assaulted Mr Wallace after handcuffing him by the arms and legs.

The victims head was found washed up on a beach near Troon, in Scotland, and his limbs were found 60 miles away in Loch Lomond.

Beggs had previously been jailed for life for the murder of barman Barry Oldham after he allegedly picked him up in Newcastle gay club Rockshots - but he was freed to kill again after 18 months.

Originally from Northern Ireland, Beggs was jailed in 1987 at Teessdie Crown Court for killing Mr Oldham.

The 28-year-old was found dumped on the North Yorks Moors with his throat slashed. Prosecutors maintained he was killed at Beggs' flat in Middlesbrough.

But the conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal because the original jury had wrongly been allowed to hear evidence of other razor attacks by Beggs.

Beggs was present in court today to hear the judges deliver their decision on his appeal against his 2001 conviction.

Lord Eassie, sitting with Lady Paton and Lord Philip, told him the court had ''carefully considered'' the arguments put forward on his behalf.

But he said: ''The conclusion reached is that none of the grounds of appeal were well-founded. Accordingly, the appeal must be refused.''

Beggs showed no emotion as he was led away to the cells.

Tesco worker Mr Wallace vanished on December 5 1999 after a Christmas night out with colleagues in his home town of Kilmarnock. He was last seen in the town centre.

The jury found that Beggs took the 18-year-old to his flat and subjected him to a serious sexual assault. He then murdered him and cut up his body.

The killer dumped the limbs and torso in Loch Lomond and the head in the sea off the Ayrshire coast. It was discovered washed up on a beach near Troon.

Prosecutors said today's decision marks the end of a long chapter in Beggs' fight to escape justice.

Shortly after the crime, Beggs fled abroad to the Netherlands. After lengthy extradition proceedings, he was ordered in January 2001 to be returned to Scotland to face trial. He was ultimately jailed for life after being found guilty of murder at the High Court in Edinburgh in October 2001.

He lodged notice of his intention to appeal with the court within days of being convicted. It took several years and a series of court hearings to get to the full appeal last year.

By that stage, Beggs had lodged eight grounds of appeal with the court.

As part of his argument, he claimed not enough was done to protect him from prejudicial publicity.

His lawyers argued that he was the subject of a ''hostile'' press campaign before his trial, which meant his human rights were violated and he did not get a fair trial.

It was also claimed that he was convicted and sentenced in breach of the terms of his extradition.

He also launched an attack on the lawyer who prosecuted him, Alan Turnbull QC, claiming he made ''frequent, deliberate, inappropriate and prejudicial'' comments about him during his trial.

It was also submitted on Beggs' behalf that the trial judge ''erred'' by allowing certain strands of evidence to be led at the trial.

He further challenged the evidence used to show he had attacked Mr Wallace, the validity of a search warrant used by police and the use of a statement from a man who died before the trial started.

But the court ruled today that it was unable to find that any of the grounds of appeal were sound.

Les Brown, district procurator fiscal for Kilmarnock, said: ''I am pleased that the Appeal Court has today refused the appeal against conviction.

''In doing so the court has concluded that Mr Beggs received a fair trial and was justly convicted of the horrific murder of Barry Wallace.

''I hope that the decision of the court will be of some comfort to Barry's parents and brother, who have borne their loss with great dignity and fortitude. I have great admiration for them.''

Beggs has gained a reputation for advising other criminals in prison on legal issues and is believed to help them with their appeals and compensation claims.

His appeal against sentence will be heard at a future date.