Leroy Campbell (pictured) was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Lisa Skidmore who was raped and strangled in her home

A thug has been sentenced to a full life term for murdering a nurse and attempting to strangle her mother with a vacuum cleaner hose before setting fire to their flat.

Leroy Campbell, 55, broke into Lisa Skidmore's home she shared with her mother late in November in a seemingly random attack.

It is believed she disturbed the intruder and he then raped her and attempted to kill her mother.

Campbell then fled the scene before he was arrested two days later.

A motive for the attack in Bilston, West Midlands, has never been revealed.

He pleaded guilty to strangling and sexually assaulting the 37-year-old at her home when he appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.

Campbell, from Moseley, Birmingham, further admitted attempting to murder her mother and arson with intent to endanger life.

Police said shortly after the body was discovered: 'This horrendous crime has had a devastating impact on those who knew Lisa, her family, friends and work colleagues and the people who lived near her.'

True Angel: Nurse Lisa Skidmore was raped and murdered in her own home in a seemingly random attack by an intruder who climbed into the flat on a stolen ladder

Her family issued a statement soon afterwards in which they said she was a 'true Angel in the community.'

They continued: 'She was the most caring, kind, compassionate, thoughtful, dedicated, professional nurse, who would go to the end of the world to meet any requirements of her patients, and her mum and family.

'Her death has left a void in the family that can never be filled again. Her presence will always be with us and her memory will never die. The tears in our eyes we can wipe away, the ache in our hearts will always stay.'

'Her death has left a void in the family that can never be filled again,' murder victim Lisa Skidmore's family said after the nurse was raped and murdered in her own home

The nurse was discovered by paramedics after neighbours alerted emergency services to a fire but was pronounced dead at the scene on November 24 last year.

A post mortem concluded that she died as a result of strangulation.

Campbell also tried to strangle her 80-year-old mother with a vacuum cleaner hose after she called at the property, the court heard.

She was found on the ground floor and taken to hospital where she was treated for severe injuries to her face and arms.

The court was told Campbell used a set of stolen step ladders to climb into the house where he raped and killed the nurse.

Nurse Lisa Skidmore worked at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust for nearly 20 years. Colleagues paid tribute to 'a valued member of the nursing team' after her violent death

Miss Skidmore had worked at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust for nearly 20 years and colleagues paid tribute to 'a valued member of the nursing team' where she worked as a senior staff nurse.

She received a bachelor of science with honours degree in professional nursing studies in 2007 and began working in the community, based in Bilston, in 2013.

Campbell was later sentenced to life in prison for the murder.

It was revealed Campbell had been released from prison just four months earlier having been jailed for 17 years for burglary and indecent assault.

He had moved to Moseley from a hostel but he began planning the attack three days before.

The sex offender stole a set of step ladders hid them in a public access-way behind Lisa's house.

CCTV captured a dark figure carrying the ladders and then using them on the morning of the attack to climb up to the first floor bedroom window.

Some two hours later, Lisa's mother called to check on her daughter, who was off work sick at the time, and, as she entered the kitchen, Campbell grabbed her around her neck and punched her.

He then wrapped a cord around her neck and she passed out before he set light to the property.

The fire service were quickly on the scene, and after taking Lisa's 80-year-old mother to safety, couldn't revive Lisa.

The 37-year-old senior staff nurse from the West Midlands was described as an 'angel' who worked tirelessly to help others

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Harry Harrison, from Force CID, said: 'Campbell had sought to cover his tracks by setting fire to the property and even tried to confuse the investigation by leaving a lager can and cigarette butts in the sink bearing a third party's DNA, but he did not remove all trace of his own DNA from the property and he handed himself in at a police station three days later.'

Lisa's mother continues to recover from her ordeal and is being cared for by family members, who were in court.

Following the sentencing they said: 'The tragic death of Lisa has not only devastated the whole family but also her friends and work colleagues.

'Lisa was one of those rare people who made a difference in the community, first by being a nurse and even more so when she became a district nurse.

'For 19 years Lisa devoted her life to caring for other people, tending to their needs in their last hours, but no one was there for Lisa in her last hours.

'We couldn't tell you how many people Lisa nursed, helped and cared for during her time as a nurse or lives that she saved, but all were treated with dignity and respect.

'Lisa was one of the most caring, kind and honest person you could meet who also had a sensitive side and would not have hurt anyone.

'To be taken in such a cruel way is lasting pain that the family will have to endure.

'Lisa will always be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by all.'

Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Payne added: 'This horrendous crime has had a devastating impact on the many people who knew Lisa, her family, friends and work colleagues and those who lived near her.

'Campbell has refused to give an account of what happened that morning and they may never know, so I hope they can get some comfort from the fact that Campbell will never be set free again.'