Judges will be given power to force offenders like Lucy Letby to attend their sentencing hearings

Judges will be given the power to force offenders like Lucy Letby to attend their sentencing hearings under new laws.

The Ministry of Justice announced plans for new legislation, allowing judges to use force if necessary to make offenders come into the courtroom to receive their sentence.

It comes after child serial killer Lucy Letby refused to face the families of her victims as she was sentenced to a whole life order for murdering seven babies.

The jury at Manchester Crown Court also found her guilty of attempting to murder six more while working as a nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called it “unacceptable” that some criminals refuse to face their victims.

The promised reforms will give custody officers the power to use “reasonable force” to ensure those awaiting sentencing appear in the dock or via video link.

Those convicted could also face an extra two years in jail if they ignore a judge’s order and continue to refuse to attend court, with such penalties applying in cases where the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.

The Ministry of Justice said judges would have discretion over whether it is “in the interests of justice” to order an offender to attend court.

No exact date has been given for the legislation and it has been promised in “due course”.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said earlier this year that ministers were committed to changing the law to force criminals to be sentenced in person after the killers of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Zara Aleena and Sabina Nessa refused to stand in the dock.

Asked about Letby’s absence in court on GB News earlier this month, Education Minister Claire Coutinho said: “Well, look I think it’s appalling. I think she should be there.

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“And I know that the Justice Secretary has said he’s very committed to making changes that are needed to make sure that people who have committed awful crimes have to go to court so they can hear things like the victims’ impact statement, which is really their moment to tell that person how this has impacted them.”

She added: “I know that there is commitment across Government to making sure that people who have committed crimes are facing the reality of that so they can hear these things and my understanding is that does mean that a change in the law is needed and the Justice Secretary has said that he’s committed to looking at that.”

What happens at a sentencing hearing?

A sentencing hearing is when a judge decides what punishment a person will receive after their conviction.

Before handing down a sentence, the prosecution will outline the facts of the case and the impact of the crime. This process can often include the reading out of statements written by the victim or victim’s family.

Many argue that it is important that offenders attend these hearings as victims often want the opportunity for their impact statements to be read out in court in front of the perpetrator to force them to face the reality of their crime.