BBC News 21 August 2023
Nurse Lucy Letby, who was unmasked as the UK's most prolific child serial killer in modern times, has been given a whole-life sentence.
The 33-year-old was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six other infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
She refused to appear in the dock for her sentencing hearing.
Letby will spend the rest of her life behind bars, becoming only the fourth woman in UK history to receive such a sentence.
Whole-life orders are the most severe punishment available and are reserved for those who commit the most heinous crimes.
Mr Justice Goss said the "cruelty and calculation" of Letby's actions were "truly horrific".acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring professions," he said.
He added handover sheets relating to all but the first four babies were found when police searched Letby's home, which he was satisfied she kept as "morbid records".
Earlier, the mother of a baby boy killed by nurse Letby said she was "horrified that someone so evil exists" as the families' victim impact statements were read out in court.
Addressing an empty dock, the mother of Baby C, who became emotional, told the court that knowing her son's murderer was watching over them was like "something out of a horror story".
