Melanie, who was 17, was stabbed to death following a night out with friends in Bath on June 8, 1984.
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A milkman and his 10-year-old son stumbled upon her body close to a block of garages a short distance from her home at 5.30am.
Father-of-four Hampton, of Staple Hill Road, Fishponds, Bristol, had been due to stand trial at Bristol Crown Court on Monday after originally denying the charge.
Father-of-three Hampton, from Fishponds, Bristol, was caught a year ago after police matched DNA from Melanie’s clothing to his daughter after she was arrested following a minor spat with her partner.
Her mother Jean Road, 81, previously told police she did not think she could “last” to see her daughter’s murderer caught.
A familial match was identified with DNA taken from Melanie’s body and clothing in 1984 – prompting police to request a mouth swab from Hampton.
At the hearing, Judge Andrew Popplewell said Hampton committed a “sexually motivated and brutal attack” on Melanie, resulting in her family being forced to suffer the agony of losing her in horrific circumstances for the past 32 years.
Following the murder, Hampton appeared to live a typical family life just a few miles from Bath.
He has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 22 years in prison.
A United Kingdom man has been jailed for 22 years after the arrest of his daughter resulted in him being linked to the brutal rape and murder of a teenage girl 32 year ago. “She was repeatedly stabbed, 26 times in all”. Their Bristol neighbours were shocked after learning that the “friendly, helpful” man who had lived amongst them was actually a brutal rapist and killer.
“You first stabbed her when she was on her feet in the street on her route home, before chasing her or taking her some 30 metres round the corner to the cul-de-sac, where she ultimately died”.
Following the attack, Hampton married his second wife and had a daughter, Amy, and stepson Darren with her.
Melanie’s brother Adrian, now 54, was a 22-year-old student in Glasgow when Melanie was killed.
Speaking outside court, Detective Chief Inspector Julie MacKay said diligent policing in 1984 was “key” to solving the case.
Hampton has never apologised or shown remorse for his actions, she said.
Avon and Somerset Police have found no evidence linking Hampton to any other crime.
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She said: “When we finally went to the court in Bath and I saw this man standing there I thought ‘it’s not a man, he’s a monster, ‘ how could he do that?” Melanie has died hundred of times in hundreds of different ways in my mind, when I am awake, when I am asleep.
