A MONSTER cop lured Sarah Everard into his car by handcuffing and arresting her on a fake Covid patrol before he raped and murdered her.

       Wayne Couzens, 48, snatched the 33-year-old off the streets as she walked home from a friend's home in Clapham Common, South West London, on March 3.

       Harrowing details of Sarah's murder were revealed for the first time today as the Met Police officer is sentenced for kidnap, rape and murder.

       The Old Bailey heard how Couzens used his warrant card to lure Sarah into his car as she walked home by claiming he was on a Covid patrol.

       Just five minutes later, terrified Sarah was driven for 80 miles from London to Kent at the start of a “lengthy ordeal” that was to lead “inexorably to her rape and murder".

       Read our Wayne Couzens sentencing live blog for the latest updates...

       Joseph Gamp 6 minutes ago

       Couzens visited Costa after sickening murder

       Wayne Couzens treated himself to a hot chocolate with coconut milk and bakewell tart from Costa just hours after murdering Sarah.

       The next morning, Couzens returned the rental car and chucked her phone into a river in Sandwich, Kent.

       He also bought petrol which he used to burn Sarah's body before calling his vet to make an appointment for the family dog about "possible medication for separation anxiety".

       Joseph Gamp 18 minutes ago

       Scotland Yard ‘sickened’ by Couzens’ crimes

       Scotland Yard said in a statement ahead of the sentencing hearing: “We are sickened, angered and devastated by this man’s crimes which betray everything we stand for.

       “Our thoughts are with Sarah’s family and her many friends. It is not possible for us to imagine what they are going through.

       “We recognise his actions raise many questions and concerns but we will not be commenting further until the hearing is complete.”

       Joseph Gamp 43 minutes ago

       Heartbreaking CCTV shows Sarah being stalked

       HEARTBREAKING CCTV shows Sarah Everard being stalked by Wayne Couzens as he prowled the dark streets looking for a victim.

       Sarah, 33, was walking back from a friend's house in Clapham Common on March 3 when she was lured into Wayne Couzens' car.

       Read more here.

       Joseph Gamp 57 minutes ago

       Crime 'could warrant a whole life order'

       Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick also attended court to hear how one of her own officers had abused his position and used his warrant card to kidnap Ms Everard "by fraud" before detaining her "by force".

       Prosecutor Tom Little QC suggested the case was so exceptional and unprecedented that it could warrant a whole life order, meaning Couzens would die in jail.

       Opening the facts of the case, he said Ms Everard's disappearance was one of the most widely publicised missing person investigations the country has ever seen.

       After her body was discovered a week later, it became summarised on social media by the hashtag "she was just walking home", which did not completely describe what had happened, he said.

       Joseph Gamp Today, 18:16

       Couzens tried to blame Eastern European gang

       Killer police officer Wayne Couzens claimed he had "no choice" but to kidnap Sarah Everard and hand her over to an Eastern European gang after he tried to "rip off" one of their call girls.

       The 48-year-old made the false claims during an interview at his home in Deal, Kent, after he was arrested on March 9 2021.

       Sitting on his sofa in handcuffs, wearing a white t-shirt and dark shorts, Couzens first claimed not to know 33-year-old Ms Everard when he was shown her photo.

       He then said he was in "financial shit" and had been "leant on" by a gang to pick up girls for them.

       In footage released by police, Couzens claims he had tried to "rip off" one of their call girls and the gang had approached him during another booking with her at the Burstin Hotel, in Folkestone.

       Joseph Gamp Today, 18:05

       No redemption for Couzens, says Sarah's father

       Sarah Everard's father asked her murderer to face him in court, telling Wayne Couzens: "No punishment that you receive will ever compare to the pain and torture that you have inflicted on us."

       Jeremy Everard, a professor of electronics at the University of York, stood in the witness box at the Old Bailey on Wednesday to read his victim impact statement.

       He asked for a photo of "my beautiful daughter" to be shown on the court's big screen, adding: "she also had a beautiful mind", before turning to face Couzens.

       The killer, 48, had sat hunched over throughout his sentencing hearing and Mr Everard calmly asked him: "Mr Couzens, please will you look at me."

       Couzens, who is facing a possible whole life sentence after admitting Ms Everard's rape, kidnap and murder, raised his head slightly but did not make eye contact.

       Mr Everard told Couzens "there can be no redemption" for what he has done.

       "All my family want is Sarah back with us," he said.

       Joseph Gamp Today, 17:50

       ‘Bright and beautiful’

       Sarah’s family previously paid tribute to their “bright and beautiful daughter and sister”.

       In a statement, they said: “Sarah was bright and beautiful – a wonderful daughter and sister.

       “She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour.

       “She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all.

       “We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives.”

       Joseph Gamp Today, 17:40

       Haunted by the horror

       Sarah Everard's mother said she is “haunted by the horror” of what happened to her daughter, describing the burning of her body as “the final insult”.

       “Our lives will never be the same,” she said.

       “We should be a family of five, but now we are four.

       “Her death leaves a yawning chasm in our lives that cannot be filled.

       “I yearn for her. I remember all the lovely things about her: she was caring, she was funny. She was clever, but she was good at practical things too. She was a beautiful dancer. She was a wonderful daughter.”

       Joseph Gamp Today, 17:30

       'How dare you take her from me'

       Sarah's sister Katie broke down in tears and wept as she told Couzens: “How dare you take her from me?

       “Take away her hopes and dreams. Her life. Children that will never be born. Generations that will never exist. Her future no longer exists.

       “The future I was supposed to live with my sister no longer exists. You have ruined so many lives. Sarah is the very best person with so many people who love and cherish her.

       “I want to speak to her and hug her and hear her laugh and go out for dinners and drinks and dancing.

       “All those conversations we can never have. There were so many things I wanted to share with her – trips abroad, being each other’s bridesmaid, meeting her babies and being an aunty, growing old together and seeing who got the most wrinkles.

       “We weren’t even halfway through our journey and you took it all away!”

       Joseph Gamp Today, 17:30

       'Will you please look at me?'

       Ms Everard’s sister Katie also asked Couzens: “Will you please look at me?”

       She said the family had to go to her flat in Brixton to pack up her “whole life”, with washing left hanging, half-sewn outfits and packages waiting to be opened when she got home.

       “But she never got home because a predator – you – was on the loose. Prowling the streets for hours looking for his prey,” she told Couzens, reading her victim statement in court.

       “My only hope is that she was in a state of shock and that she wasn’t aware of the disgusting things being done to her by a monster.”

       Joseph Gamp Today, 17:20

       Sarah's Dad asks killer to face him

       Jeremy Everard, a professor of electronics at the University of York, stood in the witness box at the Old Bailey on Wednesday to read his victim impact statement.

       “All my family want is Sarah back with us. No punishment that you receive will ever compare to the pain and torture that you have inflicted on us.

       “You murdered our daughter and forever broke the hearts of her mother, father, brother, sister, family and her friends.

       “Sarah had so much to look forward to and because of YOU this is now gone forever.

       “She was saving to buy a house and looking forward to marriage and children. We were looking forward to having grandchildren. We loved being a part of Sarah’s world and expected her to have a full and happy life. The closest we can get to her now is to visit her grave every day.”

       Joseph Gamp Today, 17:10

       Scotland Yard 'sickened' by Couzens' crimes

       Scotland Yard said in a statement ahead of the sentencing hearing: "We are sickened, angered and devastated by this man's crimes which betray everything we stand for.

       "Our thoughts are with Sarah's family and her many friends. It is not possible for us to imagine what they are going through.

       "We recognise his actions raise many questions and concerns but we will not be commenting further until the hearing is complete."

       Joseph Gamp Today, 17:00

       Free to kill

       Gun cop Couzens, who joined the Met Police in 2018, was charged with kidnap and murder more than a week after Sarah first vanished when police swooped on his home in Deal, Kent.

       The cop, who worked on the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command unit, had finished a shift earlier on the morning of March 3 and was not on duty at the time of Sarah's disappearance.

       Despite wiping his phone, data on the device linked Couzens to the abduction and eventually the area where Sarah was found.

       While in custody, former mechanic Couzens was twice taken to hospital with head injuries.

       Questions are now mounting over why Couzens was even still on the force following a wave of indecent exposure claims made against him.

       Joseph Gamp Today, 16:53

       Court sketch: Sarah's mother faces Couzens

       Ms Everard’s mother Susan, a charity worker, faced her daughter’s killer, telling the packed court she has been left “broken hearted” by what he has done.

       “She was my precious little girl, our youngest child,” she said.

       “The feeling of loss is so great it is visceral. And with the sorrow comes waves of panic at not being able to see her again. I can never talk to her, never hold her again, and never more be a part of her life.

       “We have kept her dressing gown – it still smells of her and I hug that instead of her.”

       Sarah Everarda？？s mother Susan, a charity worker, faced her daughtera？？s killer in court today Credit: PA

       Louis Allwood Today, 16:50

       Couple saw Sarah Everard being kidnapped and assumed it was ‘undercover arrest’

       A couple saw Sarah Everard being snatched from the streets by a monster cop but assumed he was making an undercover arrest.

       Wayne Couzens, 48, had stalked the 33-year-old as she made her way home from a pal's house in Clapham, South West London, on March 3.

       He then ambushed her on the street by making a fake arrest after claiming she had breached Covid rules.

       The Old Bailey heard today how a couple were driving past when they witnessed Sarah being put in Couzen's car and driven to her death.

       Prosecutor Tom Little QC said: "Sarah Everard was compliant, with her head down and did not appear to be arguing."

       Louis Allwood Today, 16:40

       Couzens continued with life after horrific murder He then treated himself to a hot chocolate with coconut milk and bakewell tart from Costa just hours after the murder.

       The next morning, Couzens returned the rental car and chucked Sarah's phone into a river in Sandwich, Kent.

       He also bought petrol which he used to burn Sarah's body before calling his vet to make an appointment for the family dog about "possible medication for separation anxiety".

       Sickeningly, Couzens even took his family to the woodland where he dumped Sarah's body just four days after murdering her.

       Louis Allwood Today, 16:30

       WEB OF LIES Couzens spun a web of lies after he was arrested - meaning Sarah's heartbroken family and the police never found out the real reason why he snatched and strangled Sarah.

       He was painted today as a sex mad fiend despite portraying the image of a married dad-of-two and even contacted escorts and used a Match.com dating profile.

       Bizarrely, Couzens claimed he kidnapped Sarah, who was a stranger to him, for a "gang of Eastern Europeans".

       He was in debt by about ￡29,000 with additional credit card debt at the time he murdered Sarah.

       Louis Allwood Today, 16:20

       Police background Gun cop Couzens, who joined the Met Police in 2018, was charged with kidnap and murder more than a week after Sarah first vanished when police swooped on his home in Deal, Kent.

       The cop, who worked on the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command unit, had finished a shift earlier on the morning of March 3 and was not on duty at the time of Sarah's disappearance.

       Despite wiping his phone, data on the device linked Couzens to the abduction and eventually the area where Sarah was found.

       While in custody, former mechanic Couzens was twice taken to hospital with head injuries.

       Questions are now mounting over why Couzens was even still on the force following a wave of indecent exposure claims made against him.

       Louis Allwood Today, 16:10

       Investigations under way still not in place MEASURES promised after the murder of Sarah Everard to try to stop further -violence against women have yet to be implemented — six months on.

       Boris Johnson pledged “immediate steps” would be taken after Sarah, 33, was killed by an off-duty cop after being kidnapped while walking in South London in March.

       Under Project Vigilant, bars and streets where sexual offences were reported were to be flooded with plain-clothes officers.

       Yet the scheme — pioneered by Thames Valley Police — has yet to be rolled out in London or most of rest of the UK despite 77 murders of women since Sarah died.

       Dorset and Wiltshire police are among those so far to adopt the policy.

       Louis Allwood Today, 16:04

       What is Reclaim These Streets? A website says that Reclaim These Streets aims to use legislation, education and community action to ensure no woman has to be asked to "text me when you get home" again.

       They began as a group who organised a vigil for Sarah Everard following her death.

       They "wanted to channel the collective grief, outrage and sadness in our community".

       Reclaim The Streets arose from all women who feel unsafe, who go missing from our streets and who face violence every day.

       They organised a vigil on Clapham Common on March 13, 2021, to pay tribute to Sarah, who disappeared while walking home in London.

       The vigil was seen as a way of publicly urging for women's safety in the UK's streets.

       John Hall Today, 16:00

       'Bright and beautiful'

       Sarah's family previously paid tribute to their "bright and beautiful daughter and sister".

       In a statement, they said: “Sarah was bright and beautiful - a wonderful daughter and sister.

       “She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour.

       “She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all.

       “We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives.”

       John Hall Today, 15:50

       Pure grief

       Vigils were held across the country as outraged Brits paid tribute to Sarah.

       Campaign group Reclaim These Streets was formed in the wake of Sarah's death.

       Jamie Klingler, one of the founders, said: "It feels like a tidal wave of half of the population saying: 'This is your problem, you need to fix it and you need to fix it now - we're not taking it any more'."

       Some of the vigils were mired by violence as heavy-handed cops arrested protesters.

       A planned event due to be held in London on Clapham Common had been cancelled due to the pandemic but thousands still attended to pay their respects.

       Kate Middelton was among those who came to look at a shrine made near where Sarah was last seen.

       Louis Allwood Today, 15:43

       Police missed three clues about Wayne Couzens Police missed three key clues about monster cop Wayne Couzens that could have seen him booted from the Met before he killed Sarah Everard.

       He became the talk of his nick for only stopping female motorists — and would take their personal details so he could watch their homes, returning to one at least three times, it is claimed.

       Vile Couzens, 48, also parked his patrol car by schools so he could leer at mums and sixth formers.

       A source told The Sun on Sunday: “It is frightening when you think about what happened to poor Sarah. If someone had been doing their job properly three years ago then none of this would have happened.”

       John Hall Today, 15:40

       Outpouring of grief

       SARAH'S tragic death caused global outrage and sparked a 'tidal wave' of grief.

       The haunting words 'she was just walking home' screamed from social media platforms as women revealed their own horror stories.

       Many told how they had been harassed on the street and public transport - with one even flashed at a vigil for Sarah.

       The outpouring prompted the Home Office to reopen a public consultation on tackling violence against women and girls, which then received more than 160,000 responses.

       Louis Allwood Today, 15:38

       Couzens used his police belt to strangle Sarah Everard

       The Met Police officer was wearing the belt when he handcuffed the 33-year-old and claimed she had breached Covid rules.

       After driving Sarah for 50 miles from London to Dover, Couzens then strangled her with it.

       The grim detail emerged as Couzens is sentenced for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah.

       The Old Bailey heard how Couzens used his warrant card to lure Sarah into a rental car as she walked home by claiming he was on a Covid patrol.

       He then raped her in his own vehicle and murdered her before burning her body in a fly-tipped fridge.

       Load more entries…