Criminals like Lucy Letby will be dragged to sentencing hearings to be brought to justice

The law change follows tireless campaigning by Farah Naz and Cheryl Korbel, who were denied the opportunity to see the killers of their loved ones brought before Justice

Lucy Letby refused to attend her sentencing after being found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others. (

Image: PA)

Criminals will be forced to attend their sentencing hearings, amid a growing trend of murderers refusing to leave their cells and face their families in court. The reform was finally announced today after months of Tory dragging its heels.

Officers will have the legal power to use “reasonable force” to bring criminals to court or via video link. If an offender continues to resist their sentence despite a judge's order, they risk an additional two years in prison. This new penalty will apply in cases where the maximum penalty is life imprisonment, including serious sexual or violent crimes such as murder, rape and intentional grievous bodily harm.

This change will mean that victims "will be able to look offenders in the eye and tell them the devastating consequences of their crime as they read their statement, rather than addressing an empty dock," said said the Department of Justice. It comes after the families were denied the chance to read their victims' personal statements to killer nurse Lucy Letby, who refused to leave her jail cell last week. She was found guilty of the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six others.

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Photo Story: Faces of killers who refused to appear in court to hear their convictions and face evil deeds

Jordan McSweeney sexually assaulted and murdered Zara Aleena but refused to appear in court for sentencing (

Picture:

SWNS)

The government's announcement is a victory for the Mirror, which has called for a change in the law. Families who have not had the opportunity to see the killers of their loved ones brought to justice, including Farah Naz and Cheryl Korbel, alongside others like Ayse Hussein and Jebina Islam, have all also campaigned tirelessly for reform. .

In June of last year, Jordan McSweeney sexually assaulted and murdered Zara Aleena, but decided he couldn't bear to hear the details of his crime repeated in court...