![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/cheshire-constabulary-pa-wire-note-839144860-3-2.jpg\")
\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/rishi.png\")
<\/p>\nCOWARDLY criminals like Lucy Letby will be forced to attend their own sentencing hearings, Rishi Sunak has announced today.<\/p>\n
Judges will get extra powers to order them to come up from the cells – and more easily slap extra time on their prison sentences if they refuse to face their victims' families.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Guidance on when and how to use "reasonable force" will be put into law, to give officers and judges more confidence in when to use it.<\/p>\n
Prison governors are the ones who enforce the orders – and they don't have to in all circumstances.<\/p>\n
The new laws will apply to anyone facing a life sentence – meaning murderers and rapists.<\/p>\n
It comes after a spate of killers sparked fury for refusing to attend their sentencing hearings, including killer nurse Lucy Letby.<\/p>\n
The PM and Justice Secretary this morning spoke to families of victims where their killer has refused to show up for their sentencing.<\/p>\n
He said today: <\/strong>\u201cIt is unacceptable that some of the country\u2019s most horrendous criminals have refused to face their victims in court. They cannot and should not be allowed to take the coward\u2019s way out.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we are giving judges the power to order vile offenders to attend their sentencing hearings, with those who refuse facing being forced into the dock or spending longer behind bars.\u201d<\/p>\n Rishi confirmed the move will happen when Parliament re-starts in the Autumn.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n He added: "I think critically, like many, I was appalled that people who have committed awful crimes could take the coward\u2019s way out and not appear in court for their sentencing and to hear the impact their crimes have had on the victim\u2019s families. <\/p>\n "I don\u2019t think that\u2019s right – there shouldn\u2019t be an easy way out. That\u2019s why we\u2019re going to change the law. I think that\u2019s the right thing to do.<\/p>\n "People rightly expect criminals to face up to the consequences of their actions. They shouldn\u2019t be able to take the easy way out and I\u2019ll change the law to ensure that\u2019s what happens."<\/p>\n Top judges will be able to give them an extra two years on top of their sentence without having to charge them with contempt of court – currently a lengthy and complicated procedure which doesn't apply to sentencing hearings.<\/p>\n Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk KC, said: \u201cEvery time a cowardly criminal hides from justice by refusing to appear in the dock for their sentencing it is another insult to their victims and their families.<\/p>\n \u201cOur reforms will give judges the power to order offenders to come to court to hear the impact of their crimes directly from victims, so that they begin their sentences with society\u2019s condemnation ringing in their ears.\u201d<\/p>\n Other convicted murderers including Thomas Cashman, the killer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, sparked fury when they failed to attend court.<\/p>\n The coward stayed in his cell as he was handed a minimum term of 42 years.<\/p>\n Olivia's mum Cheryl later spoke out against his decision, saying: "I was shocked, because I didn\u2019t realise he had a choice.<\/p>\n "Angry, because he\u2019d been there through the whole trial as myself and my family had been there for the whole trial.<\/p>\n "That day of sentencing was our time to voice what we\u2019d been through. The pain we were going through, still are going through. And he never turned up. Basically, he\u2019s a coward.<\/p>\n "I wanted him to hear the pain he has caused, and I wanted to see if there was any reaction from him. Any remorse. Him not turning up shows there\u2019s no remorse."<\/p>\n Zara Aleena's killer Jordan McSweeney also refused to attend court he was handed a 38-year minimum term for her brutal murder.<\/p>\n Her aunt Farah Naz said she and Zara's gran were "denied the chance to look him in the whites of his eyes and read out victim impact statements".<\/p>\n Sabina Nessa's family were also denied the chance to see her killer jailed for life when Koci Selamaj refused to come to the dock.<\/p>\n They later branded the sex predator a "coward" as he was caged for life for her murder.<\/p>\n Serial killer nurse Letby was in the court building last week when she was handed a whole life tariff for her depraved killing spree.<\/p>\n But the shameless monster\u00a0refused to face the families of her victims in what they described as a "final act of wickedness from a coward".<\/p>\n Letby, 33, who murdered seven babies and attempted to kill six others, was delivered a transcript of his comments and copies of the victims impact statements afterwards.<\/p>\n Mr Justice Goss said: \u201cThe sentencing hearing will take place whether she is present or not. The court has no power to force her to attend \u2026 therefore there is nothing I can do about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Her refusal meant she ignored the heartbreaking stories from the parents of the babies she was found guilty of murdering, or trying to harm.<\/p>\n The PM dubbed her "cowardly" and said he was "looking at" changing the law as soon as possible.<\/p>\nMost read in Politics<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/chinese-vice-president-han-zheng-841091383.jpg\")
<\/picture>\nForeign Sec slaps down criticism of China visit<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/removing-knife-jacket-teenager-threatening-841030946.jpg\")
<\/picture>\nThugs wielding zombie knives face harsher sentences under gov crackdown<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/000092109875_Unapprovedjpg-JS704955699-1-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>\nBritain is cosying up to China despite Beijing being threat to UK, MPs warn<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2023-norwich-united-kingdom-prime-841008651.jpg\")
<\/picture>\nEU red tape bonfire to unleash house-building bonanza & \u00a318bn boost, vows PM<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n
Read More on The Sun<\/span><\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/newspress-collage-23685916-1693302747831.jpg\")
<\/p>\nI’m an ex-paramedic – the dangerous food that acts like a plug on a child’s airway<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/newspress-collage-23687321-1693304002882.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPeter Andre reveals sad \u2018real reason\u2019 he never has birthday parties<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2023-london-united-kingdom-prime-841192792.jpg\")
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/cheshire-constabulary-pa-wire-note-839144855-9.jpg\")
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/id-confirmed-lucy-letby-possibly-417888657-5.jpg\")
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/MEGA965128_Thomas_Cashman_in_001_Thomas-Cashman-jailed-for-life-for-murdering-Olivia-Pratt-Korbeljp-.jpg\")
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/POLICE-KnottyAsh-07053425jpg-JS839258078.jpg\")
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/NINTCHDBPICT000681999260-5.jpg\")
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/COURTS-Ilford-16443284jpg-JS782887896-2.jpg\")
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/metropolitan-police-pa-wire-note-782904592-1.jpg\")