Former police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, was sentenced to life in prison (a rare sentence in the UK) for the kidnap, rape, and murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard, as she was walking home in London on March 3.

Lord Justice Adrian Fulford handed down the sentence on Thursday, saying Couzens had gone out on that fateful night to hunt "a lone female to kidnap and rape."

BREAKING Wayne Couzens sentenced to a rare, whole life order at the Old Bailey. He will never be released for the murder of Sarah Everard. He is the first police officer to receive this sentence

— Fiona Hamilton (@Fhamiltontimes) September 30, 2021

Fulford also said that there was "significant planning and premeditation" to the heinous act. Couzens had planned the crime in detail.

Everard's body was found in Kent, about 100 km southeast of London a week after the murder. The former police officer abused his power as a policeman and used his warrant card and handcuffs to get Everard into his car, under the pretext of March's Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Couzens then raped and strangled her, before setting fire to her body.

The case has drawn a lot of media attention due to the gruesome nature of the crime and the fact that the murderer abused his position of trust and power to inflict harm upon others, effectively damaging societal trust in the police. He will join nearly 60 other prisoners in England and Wales who are currently serving life sentences.