A convicted murderer released from a life sentence last April has abducted and raped a young boy.

Stephen Ayre was jailed for life after he murdered 25-year-old machinist Irene Hudson in Shipley in September 1984.

Miss Hudson, of Gaisby Lane, Shipley, had been reported missing after she failed to return from a night out and her body was later found on a bridle path near the town's railway station.

Ten months ago Ayre was released on licence after serving 20 years behind bars, but nine days ago he abducted the boy, who is understood to be ten-years-old, and subjected him to a shocking sex ordeal. Ayre, 44, of Bingley Road, Saltaire, appeared before a judge at Bradford Crown Court yesterday via a video link with Wakefield Prison, to plead guilty to two offences of raping the boy.

He also admitted further charges of abduction and causing the boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, to engage in sexual activity with him.

No details about the boy's abduction were given during the short court hearing, but Ayre's barrister Sophie Drake conceded that a further lengthy prison sentence was inevitable for her client.

Miss Drake requested an adjournment of sentencing so that a psychiatric report could be prepared on Ayre. Judge Linda Sutcliffe agreed to her application.

Judge Sutcliffe remanded Ayre back into custody and told him: "The court will want as much information about you as possible before it proceeds to sentence and the critical question in this case is whether a life sentence must follow for these offences as I suspect it might well do."

She fixed a sentence hearing for April 25, but if the reports are not ready in time that date may have to be changed.