Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Jamie Grierson

Criminals to be forced to attend sentencing in England and Wales

Lucy Letby's mugshot
Lucy Letby, the UK’s worst child serial killer of modern times, failed to attend her sentencing. Photograph: Cheshire constabulary/Getty Images

Judges will be given the power to order an offender to attend a sentencing hearing, including by force if necessary, under new laws proposed by the Ministry of Justice.

The move in England and Wales comes after a number of high-profile offenders failed to appear for their sentencing hearings including Lucy Letby, the nurse who was found guilty of murdering seven babies, and the murderer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.