A judge Thursday endorsed a 20-year prison sentence for Shawn Lamb, who pleaded guilty earlier in the day to the drug-fuelled killings of two young aboriginal women.

Lamb, 54, was originally set to stand trial on two counts of second-degree murder but agreed to a deal with the Crown to plead guilty to reduced counts of manslaughter.

Lamb’s sentence includes a provision he not be allowed to apply for parole before serving another nine years in custody.

Carolyn Sinclair, 25, was killed Dec. 18, 2011. Lorna Blacksmith, 18, was killed Jan. 11, 2012. Both women were killed after smoking drugs with Lamb in his West End apartment.

Justice Rick Saull, acknowledging the high profile nature of the case, said a “honestly informed public” would accept the sentence as appropriate, given the particular circumstances before the court.

“I am confined to consideration of what was put before me today” and nothing else, Saull said, noting the sentence is not far removed from those handed down for second-degree murder.

“The Crown has achieved a responsible result,” Saull said. “Mr. Lamb will be incarcerated for a very, very long time ... and may never see the street again.”

Court heard Lamb provided a full confession to police after being arrested and questioned on an unrelated matter in June 2012.

There was little chance of conviction were it not for Lamb’s confession, said Crown attorney Sheila Leinburd, and there was a strong likelihood the confession would not have been admitted at trial, sinking any hope of conviction.

“There were no eyewitnesses to the killings, and despite the best efforts of police, only limited forensic evidence is available to put before the court,” Leinburd said. “Consequently the description of the killing of both women is taken solely from the accused Lamb’s statement.”

Defence lawyer Martin Glazer told court police paid Lamb for his confession, further compromising its veracity. Leinburd did not dispute the allegation and no further details were provided to court.

Court heard Lamb met Sinclair on Sargent Avenue the same day he killed her and the two went to an area crack house to buy drugs. They returned to Lamb’s apartment and smoked the drugs together. Lamb told police Sinclair grabbed two remaining rocks of crack, ran into a bathroom, locked the door, and began smoking the drugs.

Sinclair exited the bathroom when Lamb threatened to break the door down. That’s when Lamb took a wooden axe handle and beat Sinclair in the head. Lamb then choked Sinclair until she lost consciousness and died.

Sinclair smoked the rest of the drugs then left the apartment to buy a case of beer. Several days later Lamb wrapped Sinclair’s body in plastic and twine, placed her in a duffle bag and dumped it in a Notre Dame Avenue back lane.

Just weeks later, Lamb and Blacksmith were smoking drugs in his apartment when Blacksmith said she would call her supplier for a delivery. An argument ensued, Lamb grabbed the phone from Blacksmith’s hands and threw her to the floor. Lamb grabbed a television cord and strangled Blacksmith to death. Lamb told police he attempted to resuscitate Blacksmith to no avail.

Lamb left the apartment to buy more drugs, then wrapped Blacksmith’s naked body in plastic and left her in the back lane of Simcoe Street.

Police did not discover Sinclair’s body until March 31, 2012, after passersby noticed a package “that was leaking what appeared to be blood into the back lane,” Leinburd told court.

Lamb led police to Blacksmith’s body in June 2012.

“There is no question Shawn Lamb caused the death of these two women,” Glazer said. “In this case, he did the right thing by confessing and pleading guilty ... Without his confession the Crown would have no case against him.”

Lamb has a long criminal record, including 16 convictions for assault alone. Court heard he has been addicted to drugs since he was a youth and was in the midst of a months-long drug bender at the time of the killings.

“Nothing I can say can make (people) understand the life of a drug addict,” Lamb told court. “I hate what I have become.”

Lamb threatened to derail the sentencing when, late in the morning proceedings, he told court he wanted to rescind his guilty pleas, due to a reference in a doctor’s report suggesting he was a psychopath.

Lamb withdrew his request after Saull told him he would put no weight on the reference.

Family members of the victims cried in court and some could not contain their anger.

“You’re a f------ monster ... Take f------ responsibility,” one man yelled before Sheriff’s officers led him out of court.

Amanda Sinclair said the sentencing hearing was the first time she heard details how her sister died.

“It was like reliving it all again from when she was found,” Sinclair said outside court.

Sinclair said she was unhappy with the sentence. “I was hoping he would get what he deserved,” she said. “That’s not much for taking two lives ... I think he would do it all over again if he could.”

Lamb is also charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of 31-year-old Tanya Jane Nepinak. Her body has never been found. That case remains before the court.