A PAEDOPHILE who filmed himself sexually assaulting his own stepdaughter failed in a bid to reduce his life sentence.

At Cardiff crown court a year ago, Brian Clarke, 53, branded "evil" by a judge in his original trial, and his brother Shaun, 50, were convicted of committing separate rapes against children in the Newport area.

Then, one of Brian Clarke's victims, brave stepdaughter Laura Collins, then 22, who waived her right to anonymity, told us she hoped he would "rot in hell" and never be released.

Ms Collins was abused by Brian Clarke over a two-year period, beginning when she was eight. He once filmed an attack in a sickening home-made video.

Now Brian Clarke, who was given life, and Shaun Clarke, jailed for 15 years, have lost their appeals to reduce their sentences.

The court of appeal, sitting in Cardiff, ruled that the sentences were not "manifestly excessive."

But Shaun Clarke's wife, Sharon Clarke, 48, succeeded in reducing her eight-year sentence, for six charges which cannot be identified, to six years.

Brian Clarke, formerly of Ringland, was convicted of seven rapes, two attempted rapes, and seven indecent assaults in January last year.

The former steelworker was sentenced to life in prison, and told he would serve a minimum of 11 years before being considered for parole.

Judge Stephen Hopkins QC had told him that after working for 30 years in the legal profession: "I have encountered only a handful of truly evil men. You are one of them."

At the appeal court session, Mary Parry-Evans, defending, said: "This was a very grave case involving young children but our contention is that the life sentence was too long.

"The judge had formed a view of my client, and described him as an exceptionally dangerous, predatory paedophile."

She said that in 2004, Brian Clarke had received five years for downloading indecent images of children.

In the present case, she said he had not been violent and had been generous to the victims.

Shaun Clarke, of Montrose Place, Selkirk, Scotland, was convicted last January of two rapes, three indecent assaults, and four charges which cannot be identified.

His barrister, Jeremy Jenkins, said his client's sentence had been manifestly harsh and excessive.

Andrew Taylor , defending Sharon Clarke, of Montrose Place, Selkirk, Scotland, said: "Eight years was excessive and unfair."

He said she had once called in police herself.

The judgement was given by Mr Justice Roderick Evans who sat with Lord Justice Pill and Mr Justice Walker.