The sentences available for necrophilia are to be reviewed in the wake of the appalling crimes of former hospital electrician David Fuller, the Government has announced.

       Fuller, who last week admitted the 1987 murders of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in Tunbridge Wells, has also pleaded guilty to raping and sexually assaulting at least 100 corpses in two hospital mortuaries.

       The 67-year-old married father is yet to be sentenced for his crimes and faces a whole-life tariff for the sexually motivated murders of the two young women, which became known as the “bedsit killings”.

       But it has emerged that despite the shocking details of how Fuller violated the bodies of the deceased, the maximum sentence available to the courts for offences of necrophilia is just two years.

       In a statement to the House of Commons, Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary said the sentencing guidelines would be reexamined in light of the case.

       He told MPs: "As sentencing has yet to take place, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the particular case.

       "But I will say this - in light of what has happened, the Justice Secretary will be looking at whether the penalties that are currently available for such appalling sexual offences are appropriate."

       Mr Javid also announced that an inquiry into the scandal set up by the local NHS Trust would now become a full public inquiry.

       He said the inquiry would be chaired by Sir Jonathan Michaels and would look at the circumstances surrounding the offences committed at the hospital as well as their wider implications.

       He told MPs: "It will help us understand how these offences took place without detection in the trust, identify any areas where early action by this trust was necessary, and then consider wider national issues, including for the NHS."

       Mr Javid stressed that the inquiry would be independent and the findings would be published.

       Mr Javid said the terms of reference will be published in "due course" and the chairman would hold talks with families and others.

       He told the Commons: "We have a responsibility to everyone affected by these shocking crimes to do right by those we've lost and those still left behind in their shock and their grief.

       "Nothing we can say in this place will undo the damage that has been done, but we must act to make sure that nothing like this can ever happen again."

       It was also said that support had been put in place for the families of the 100 victims of David Fuller, as well as for staff impacted by the crimes.

       Mr Javid said: "Officers have tragically found evidence of 100 victims. Of these victims, 81 have been formally identified and specially trained family liaison officers have been supporting their families. Every family of a known victim has been contacted.

       "I know how distressing the details of these offences will be for many people. The local NHS trust has put arrangements in place to support staff who have been affected and, regardless of whether someone has been directly impacted by these offences or not, they can access the resources that are available on the My Support Space website.

       "This is a profoundly upsetting case that has involved distressing offences within the health service. The victims are not just those family members and friends who have been abused in this most horrific of ways, they are also those that are left behind."