The Crown Office have issued a statement following the conviction of Peter Tobin for the murder of schoolgirl Vicky Hamilton.

Scott Pattison, Director of Operations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said the crime had horrified people across the UK, and that Tobin, who had "no recognisable humanity" demonstrated "casual indifference to the violent inhumanity of his actions."

Pattison's full statement can be read below.

"On behalf of the Solicitor General and the prosecution team I would like to take this opportunity to say that our thoughts remain with Vicky's family. We have been humbled by their dignity and perseverance through a bitter and terrible ordeal. We hope that the jury's verdict gives them some small measure of comfort today

"The nature of this crime has horrified people across the UK.

"Peter Tobin abducted Vicky Hamilton in 1991, drugged, sexually assaulted, and murdered this 15 year old girl; and then bi-sected and concealed her body.

"Vicky was a bright and happy young girl, with her own hopes and dreams for the future; she lived her life surrounded by a loving family and friends. Her disappearance in 1991 caused unimaginable distress for her family. Vicky's mother, Janette, lived with that distress for 2 years, before she died in 1993.

"For some time now, Vicky's family have known the awful truth of what happened to Vicky after she disappeared that night in Bathgate.

"The truth is, that a man, of no recognisable humanity, took the life of the girl they loved. In 2007, Vicky's family were finally able to lay her to rest. Now they know that the man who killed Vicky has been brought to justice in a court of law.

"It is self evident in any murder case that, for the victim's family, the passage of time does not lessen the desire for justice. In the most serious of crimes, time is no healer; nor does it dilute the horror of the act; or absolve the perpetrator of responsibility.

"Equally, time does not lessen the determination of the police and prosecutors to establish the truth. No response other than painstaking, relentless, and persistent investigation, and evidence gathering, is conceivable in the face of such a crime. Murder cannot and will not go unpunished with the passage of time. We were determined to see justice delivered for Vicky and her family.

"We maintained a high public profile for Vicky's disappearance through regular and repeated appeals on TV and in the press and the public were tremendously helpful. Many, many people came forward to assist the police in this investigation; such was the natural level of public concern at the disappearance of a 15 year old girl.

"Peter Tobin repeatedly denied his responsibility for Vicky's death and in fact denied ever having any contact with her. This callous denial of the truth caused additional and pro-longed distress for Vicky's family. The evidence in this case has shown that Tobin has a casual indifference to the violent inhumanity of his actions.

My thoughts remain with Vicky's family, who have today seen justice delivered."