A FORMER Huddersfield University student who was responsible for the death of a woman he kidnapped has been branded a “menace to women’’ by a judge.

Jailing electronics and engineering graduate Ioannis Revenikiotis for 11 years, the judge Mr Justice Wilkie, said the 28-year-old had subjected his victim, Stephanie Hammill, to a “terrifying ordeal”.

He kidnapped the 20-year-old travel agent from a Wakefield street and she died after jumping or falling from his car as he sped off with her.

Revenikiotis was found guilty of both offences by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court and he was jailed for 11 years for manslaughter and eight years for kidnap. The sentences will run concurrently and he must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence.

Stephanie had mistaken Revenikiotis’ Mercedes for a taxi after a night out in Wakefield in 2003 and fell or jumped from it and was hit by a taxi which killed her instantly.

The judge told Revenikiotis: “The court has heard and accepts that Miss Hammill was a well-liked and loved young girl, enjoying life, with much to look forward to.

“You, however, saw her as an opportunity for sexual contact. In desperation for female company, you ruthlessly acted without any regard for her.

“By your impulsive and selfish behaviour you subjected her to a terrifying ordeal, driving her past her own home towards the countryside.

“She only felt able to escape by taking her life in her own hands and jumping out of your moving car into the path of oncoming traffic.

“You robbed her, and her family and friends, of her life.

“Your actions have devastated their lives and nothing this court can do today can in any way make up for what you have done.

“I am satisfied not only from the events of that night, but also from your conduct towards women in the past, despite your undoubted intelligence and talent, you are a menace to women, and such conduct can have devastating and unpredictable consequences.”

Stephanie's parents, Brian and Jane Hammill, said after the case: “Stephanie was just the perfect daughter. She was loving and caring. She was so full of life and had so much to look forward to. She worshipped James and she loved her family very much.

“Obviously nothing will ever bring Stephanie back, but we do take some small comfort from seeing that man sent to prison today.

“We can never forgive him for what he did. We hate him and there are no words that can properly describe how badly we feel towards him.

“His disgusting and selfish actions robbed us of our beautiful daughter and left a massive hole in our lives that can never be filled.

“He has shown no remorse for the huge amount of suffering he has caused. He ran away and did everything he could to avoid facing the consequences of his actions. That prolonged this whole ordeal for us.

“Not a single day goes by when we don't think about Stephanie.’’

Stephanie's fiance, James Garland, added: “The shock of losing Stephanie so suddenly left me feeling like I had been cut in half. I didn't know how I could cope on my own. I didn't think I would ever be able to carry on with my life or get back to normal again.

“My sister Emma, who played a really big part in helping me to get going again, sadly died of cancer last year. Without her support I do not know how I would have coped.’’