A campaign backed by The Argus to crack down on violent sex web sites today won a major victory as the Government unveiled plans for a new law.

Home Office minister Paul Goggins intends to ban possession of extreme pornographic material downloaded from the internet in the way child pornography is outlawed.

The news is a triumph for Liz Longhurst, who launched the campaign after the murder of her daughter Jane.

The new offence of possession of violent and abusive pornography would mean images acquired electronically would be illegal.

Killer Graham Coutts' obsession with internet images of violent sex led him to strangle the 31-year-old teacher at his Hove flat. Coutts kept Jane's body in a Brighton storage warehouse before taking the body into the Sussex countryside and burning it.

He was jailed for life at Lewes Crown Court in January last year, when Jane's 74-year-old mother launched her campaign.

Today, she welcomed the Government announcement and thanked the 35,000 people, many of them readers of The Argus, who signed her petition.

All the categories of material proposed for banning are already illegal to publish in the UK under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 but Mr Goggins said the internet meant obscene material could be published electronically from abroad.

He said: "It is hoped creating a new offence of possession of violent and abusive pornography will send a clear message about this material, make it easier to combat and may reduce demand for it."

Offenders would be jailed for up to three years.

Mr Goggins announced a consultation period until December when groups and individuals can contribute their views before legislation is introduced.

David Lepper, Brighton Pavilion MP, who took the campaign to Westminster, said: "I hope readers who responded to The Argus campaign will make their views known to the Government directly or through my office."

Michael Beard, editor of The Argus, said: "What happened to Jane was indescribably awful and tragic and I hope this campaign and a new law will stand as a memorial to someone so well loved and respected in our community."