THE man who murdered schoolgirl Paige Doherty is appealing his sentence of life in prison with a minimum term of 27 years.

John Leathem, 32, pleaded guilty to stabbing the 15-year-old in September and was sentenced just two weeks ago.

But it was confirmed today he has filed an appeal against his sentence.

A spokesman for the Court of Criminal Appeal, based in Edinburgh, said: "He has appealed against his sentence."

Speaking at Leathem's sentencing, Judge Lady Rae condemned the "truly reprehensible" attack on the popular teenager and rejected his supposed excuse for the crime and cover-up.

She said: “No evidence has been placed before me to support your assertion. It is not part of the agreed narrative. It is not accepted by the Crown. A proof in mitigation was offered to you but not accepted.

“You must have struck the victim in excess of 146 times with a knife which, on your account, just happened to be handy in the back room of your shop. These were not just stab wounds but they included many slashing type injuries. This number of injuries excludes the separate, repeated blows which must have been delivered to inflict the large gaping wound on her neck which ultimately led to her bleeding to death.

“From the victim impact statements, you have left a family heartbroken and bereft. I cannot, in this short sentence statement, do justice to the sentiments expressed by the child’s family and have thus not attempted to summarise them, but it is clear they are all understandably devastated and their lives will never again be the same after what you did.”

Speaking just moments after Leathem was sentenced to life behind bars, Paige's heartbroken mum Pamela Munro said: “Today we see a monster put behind bars for the unthinkable, brutal crime he committed against our daughter, Paige - a beautiful 15-year-old with a full life ahead of her and a massive family and friends who are left to carry on with her no longer here.”