THE father of murdered pregnant teenager Nikitta Grender says he will be waiting at the prison gates if his daughter’s killer is ever released.

Paul Brunnock says he feels nothing but “absolute hatred” for rapist and murderer Carl Whant and said he is counting down the days until her killer is released from prison in 35 years.

Whant, 28, was jailed for life in March this year for stabbing 19- year-old Nikitta Grender in the neck and stomach before setting her Broadmead Park home on fire on February 5, 2010. Her unborn child Kelsey-May was also killed.

Whant, a former bouncer, of Bettws, Newport, who is the cousin of Miss Grender’s boyfriend Ryan Mayes, was told he would serve at least 35 years in prison before he could apply for parole.

But last week he appealed against his sentence, claiming it was too long and that the killing of Kelsey-May should not have been considered an aggravating factor.

Mr Brunnock, 39, said the family was disgusted he was even allowed to appeal and his disregard for Kelsey-May’s life showed he cared for no one but himself.

He said: “It’s terrible, it’s basically him saying that Kelsey-May’s life did not matter. He is a monster who thinks no life matters to him but his own.”

Mr Brunnock said the killer’s appeal had shaken the whole family and brought all the emotions associated with the horrific crime and trial flooding back.

Miss Grender’s mum Marcia, 39, returned to work as a teaching assistant a few months back but still has days when she struggles to cope with what has happened, he said.

He, too, returned to work for delivery firm Nightfreight but admits he couldn’t handle it. He hopes to try again in the new year.

“We were just appalled (at the appeal). He has never admitted what he has done and I don’t think he ever will, but in appealing the sentence he is saying he’s done it but he thinks he got too long, which is ridiculous.

“It wasn’t long enough as far as I am concerned, 35 years of his life is absolutely nothing, we have thought that from the beginning. I know it was a long sentence but in our eyes it was never going to be long enough no matter what they gave him.

“I believe in bringing back hanging – when they know 110 per cent and there is no doubt that’s the way I feel about it.”

The couple’s son Luke, 15, finds it difficult to talk about what happened but was dealing with the loss of his beloved sister in his own way, his father said.

“Not that it’s ever going to go away but this has brought everything back to us, I am trying hard to keep it together for the family.

“We will never understand why he did it. Even if he did tell us we would have to believe what he says.

“I feel total hatred towards him. I am waiting 35 years. The day he comes out I’ll be waiting outside the gates for him.

“I will be in my 70s then. I’ll have nothing to lose.”

Top judges rejected the appeal claims that the sentence was too long

TOP judges Lord Justice Pitchford, Mr Justice Hickinbottom and Judge Guy Boney QC sitting in London’s Court of Appeal rejected Whant’s appeal claims.

Lord Justice Pitchford said: “He killed his victim because she was a witness to the rape he had just committed.

The offence was further aggravated by the fact that he killed her unborn child and attempted to dispose of the evidence by fire.

“It is simply unarguable that the killing of the unborn child was somehow part and parcel of the sexual element which led to the killing.

“The appalling facts allowed the judge to impose a minimum term substantially above 30 years. He is plainly a very dangerous man. It is impossible to argue that this minimum term is manifestly excessive,” the judge concluded.

According to Mr Brunnock, Whant appealed his sentence earlier this year, which was rejected.

His latest bid to get it reduced was an appeal on the original decision, he said.

Visits to grave are part of daily routine

ALMOST two years on, the family still visit their daughter’s grave every day.

Mr Brunnock said it had become part of their daily routine.

He said: “We used to see her every day when she was here so we have got to be there every day for her now. We don’t do it for us; we do it for Nikitta. Luke comes with us, but he stays in the car. I don’t think he really wants to face it.”

Their daughter’s boyfriend and Kelsey-May’s dad, Ryan Mayes, 19, is still close to them and visits them regularly.

Mr Brunnock said: “He’s in absolute bits, everything has been taken away from him – his girlfriend, his daughter – he’s lost everything.

“They were getting everything sorted ready for Kelsey-May and now all of a sudden it’s been taken away – and by a family member which is even worse.”

The young couple’s burnt-out home remains derelict and the family have asked owners Newport City Homes for it to be pulled down.

Following the court case they visited the flat to collect the few belongings that survived the fire, something Mr Brunnock said was an “absolutely terrible” task.

They, along with teddy bear tributes left outside the devastated home by friends and neighbours, are cherished reminders of the mum-to-be.

They are kept in a nursery in the family’s home decorated ready for their granddaughter’s arrival, which has remained untouched since her death.

This December should have been a time of celebration for the family with Mr Brunnock’s 40th birthday on December 18 and Miss Grender due to celebrate her 21st birthday on December 19.

Instead they will have a small get-together to remember the teenager as they did on the first anniversary of her death this year when they let off Chinese lanterns at her grave.

Mr Brunnock added: “Christmas will be a difficult time, we won’t be celebrating it at all. I think we will try and keep things as good as we can for Luke but he knows it won’t be like it used to be. We have just got no motivation for it.”

Whant told court he was not the killer

DURING a month-long trial Whant maintained his innocence and took to the stand to claim he was nowhere near the house at the time of the murder.

The court heard the father-of-two, who had enjoyed a drink and drug-fuelled night out with friends, including Mr Mayes, the night before the killing was “fixated” with Miss Grender.

The friends ended up at a house party but he left around 5am telling them he was going to his nan’s house to get cigarettes.

But she told the court he never went there and his silver Ford Focus car was instead captured on CCTV travelling in the direction of Miss Grender’s home. DNA evidence proved Whant had sex with her the night before her death – something he claimed was consensual and said Mr Mayes knew about.

But Mr Mayes denied this and testified along with family and friends about how much the eight-and-a-half months pregnant teenager could not stand Whant.

Blood stains containing DNA matching Miss Grender’s were found on Whant’s clothes and in his car. He told the jury he had no idea how they got there.