A national newspaper editor has apologised to the landlord of a murder victim, over a series of defamatory articles published in his paper.

Richard Wallace, editor of the Daily Mirror, said the coverage was a "black mark on his editing record" and apologised to Chris Jefferies and his friends and family. He added: "I think Mr Jefferies' name will be imprinted on my brain forever more".

The Mirror was one of eight papers forced to pay libel damages to Jefferies over coverage of the murder of Joanna Yeates. Wallace claimed an off-the-record police source told the paper they were sure they had "got their man" when Jefferies was arrested. He said information was "at the front and centre of my thoughts" when making editorial decisions at the time, and had "greatly coloured" his judgement.

Jefferies told the inquiry that he would never "fully recover from the events of last year" and said: "The incalculable effect of what was written about me by these highly influential Tabloid newspapers is something from which it will be difficult ever to escape".

He said he was advised to change his appearance to avoid media interest, and was "effectively under house arrest".

Jefferies was arrested in December 2010 and was later cleared as a suspect. Vincent Tabak, Yeates's neighbour, was found guilty of her murder in October 2011. Wallace pointed out that Avon and Somerset police had reviewed vital CCTV footage of Yeates following an interview with a pub landlord carried out by the Mirror.

Lord Justice Leveson said he understood the "critical importance" of the press during police investigations but that the papers should take responsibility for shaping public opinion.The Mirror was also fined £50,000 for contempt of court over the coverage, and is currently appealing the decision.