Mark Bridger watched violent rape scene in slasher film shortly before killing April Jones

Killer viewed scene from 'The Last House on the Left' and then recorded it when screened an hour later on a +1 channel

Mark Bridger had been watching an horrific rape scene from a slasher film “not long before” April Jones was murdered, it can be reported for the first time today.

When police searched Bridger's cottage they found that he had been watching a brutal rape scene from the 2009 re-make of the slasher film, The Last House on the Left.

Bridger, a man who a hoarded hundreds of images of child pornography on his laptop, had recorded the scene where a young teenage girl is raped by the leader of a gang in front of his watching gangmates, some of whom help to hold the victim down while she is being attacked.

Police then discovered that the murderer recorded the rape scene for a second time when the film was repeated on a +1 channel an hour later.

When the scene was discussed in court, Bridger's own barrister Brendan Kelly QC described the scene as “distressing”.

Elwen Evans QC, for the prosecution, said given what happened in that room the discovery was “significant” and Bridger must have watched the scene “not long before” whatever happened to April took place.

She added: “This is not just the playing of a rape scene on television. That particular rape scene had been recorded twice. A deliberate action to capture the most distressing aspect.”

This part of the evidence was not allowed to be part of the trial by Mr Justice Griffith Williams but can be reported now in light of Bridger's conviction.

The original version of The Last House on the Left was directed by Nightmare on Elm Street creator Wes Craven and has been described as a crude but shocking “horror opus” which became a cult hit largely because it went much further than “slasher” films before it had been willing to go.

PA

Further reading:

Mark Bridger found guilty of murder and abduction of April Jones

Profile: Mark Bridger was an alcoholic paedophile who lived out sexual fantasies on the internet

Bridger's cottage should 'no longer exist', say April Jones' parents

April had a 'tantrum' so she could play out with friends on the night of her abduction

The search for April Jones in numbers

Psychologist: 'Mark Bridger could take years to reveal what happened to April Jones'

Search for April Jones' remains will continue if Mark Bridger gives up information