Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana said "I’m glad they’re dead" as he was held in a custody suite, Liverpool Crown Court has heard.

       The 18-year-old is due to be sentenced today after pleading guilty to murdering Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, in July last year, when he was aged 17.

       Prosecutors said the injuries he inflicted on his victims were "difficult to explain as anything other than sadistic in nature".

       Rudakubana entered the dock just after 11.45am wearing a grey tracksuit and surgical mask, immediately putting his head on his knees. He did not reply when asked to confirm his name. Dock officers were then asked if they could hear proceedings, which they replied that they could.

       However, shortly after the beginning of the hearing, Mr Justice Goose ordered Rudakubana to be removed from the dock as he shouted repeatedly.

       In her opening of the case, Deanna Heer KC told the court: "Three children were killed, two of whom suffered particularly horrific injuries which are difficult to explain as anything other than sadistic in nature.

       "And the defendant attempted to kill 10 others, inflicting a number of stab wounds upon them, including to their backs as they tried to escape."

       More than 30 members of the victims’ families were in the public gallery of the court for the sentencing and the court heard there were others in an annexe.

       Rudakubana pleaded guilty to all 16 offences he faced on the first day of his trial on Monday. He also admitted to the attempted murders of eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Leanne Lucas, and businessman John Hayes.

       Ms Heer also told the court that images and documents were found on Rudakubana’s devices, “which demonstrated that he had a long-standing obsession with violence, killing and genocide”. Weapons were also found in searches of his home.

       She added: “Having researched atrocities committed by others, the evidence suggests that he set out to emulate them on the 29 July. There is no evidence that he ascribed to any particular political or religious ideology; he wasn’t fighting for a cause.

       “His only purpose was to kill, and he targeted the youngest, most vulnerable in order to spread the greatest level of fear and outrage, which he succeeded in doing.

       “Whilst under arrest at the police station after the incident, Axel Rudakubana was heard to say, 'It’s a good thing those children are dead… I’m so glad… so happy’.”