Killers like Lucy Letby and Thomas Cashman could be made to go to court by force under new plans

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Criminals could soon be ordered to face their sentencing hearing in court — including being brought before a judge by force — under proposed new laws.

The plans have been confirmed by the government, which will allow judges to compel an offender to sit in the dock. Those who still refuse to do so 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 reforms will allow dock officers to use "reasonable force" to get criminals into court. They can also appear from prison via video link. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features. The changes have been brought in after two notable killers — murdering baby nurse Lucy Letby and Thomas Cashman, who shot nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel dead in Liverpool — refused to go before the court to learn their fate.

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 Cashman and the killers of Zara Aleena and Sabina Nessa refused to stand in the dock.