TWO men who sexually attacked and then murdered a charity worker have had five years added to the minimum terms they must serve in prison.

TWO men who sexually attacked and then murdered a charity worker have had five years added to the minimum terms they must serve in prison.

Robert McCarry and Paul Waters, both from Ipswich, were jailed for life in April for the murder of Nicola West, with McCarry told he should serve at least 19 years before parole and Waters given a 13-year minimum.

But judges at the Court of Appeal in London today agreed with Baroness Scotland, the Attorney General, that the tariffs were “unduly lenient”.

McCarry's minimum term was increased to 24 years and Waters' upped to 18 years.

The pair, who were both unemployed, killed Miss West, 34, of Little Blakenham, in a car after drinking with her in a pub in February 2007.

They then drove around with her body in the boot of the vehicle for 48 hours before handing themselves in to police.

McCarry, now 37, was convicted of rape and murder while Waters, 29, was found guilty of attempted rape and murder.

Today it was argued that the original minimum terms did not reflect the seriousness of the crimes as a sexually motivated murder.

And Lady Justice Hallett, giving the court's decision, agreed.

She said that the death, accompanied by sexual activity, increased Miss West's ordeal.