A man who massacred four people in a New Forest mansion committed 76 offences in 20 years, criminal records have revealed.

George Stephenson was jailed for life in October 1987 aged 36 after being convicted alongside two others of murdering four people, raping a woman and robbery a year earlier at Burgate House.

Stephenson, who was 36 at the time of what became known as the Fordingbridge massacre, died in hospital on April 20 this year.

But his criminal record, which is 34 pages long, shows nearly 80 convictions that span back to 1967, when he was aged just 15.

The Echo has obtained his police files which describe how he and two other males entered Burgate House to commit robbery, but they then “bound and set fire to four victims” before raping and strangling a fifth.

READ MORE: New Forest murderer George Stephenson loses parole bid

An “attempt was then made to burn the house down” by Stephenson, who was the victims’ former handyman.

In 1967, he started working as a fitter, but spent years of his life unemployed before becoming a labourer in August 1972.

He frequently used the alias "Kenneth Womphrey" with a fake birthday of November 14, 1945.

Stephenson committed 76 offences in the 20 years before the massacre, facing 16 convictions and one non-conviction for theft and kindred offences in 1980.

He faced his first hearing at 15, on January 12, 1967, being found guilty of stealing and housebreaking before being fined £5.

Stephenson frequently used the alias Kenneth Womphrey with a fake birthday.Stephenson frequently used the alias Kenneth Womphrey with a fake birthday. (Image: Supplied) In May of the same year, he was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He faced his first adult hearing at Sunderland Magistrates court for driving without a license and insurance on August 28, 1968.

Stephenson was fined a total of £15.

He was found guilty of crimes including aiding and abetting minor road traffic offences, shop breaking and stealing, carrying a firearm and ammunition in public and possessing prohibited weapons among others.

READ MORE: New Forest Burgate House killer George Stephenson dies

Stephenson was given concurrent jail sentences during this time for up to 30 months at a time, as well as fines and community service.

Joseph Cleaver, 82, and his disabled wife Hilda were among the victims.Joseph Cleaver, 82, and his disabled wife Hilda were among the victims. (Image: Supplied) In 2021, Stephenson became eligible for parole while serving a lifetime in prison, and an oral hearing took place the following year, with a second hearing in 2023.

He was denied release.

Police described him as five-foot seven-inches tall, possessing 11 tattoos and a scar across his thigh.

The victims at Burgate House were Joseph Clever and his disabled wife Hilda, their son Tom, the family's live-in nurse Margaret Murphy and Tom's wife Wendy.