Killers who refuse to attend sentencing will face new penalties under government plan

Killers who refuse to attend sentence hearings could be confined to their cell for weeks or lose visiting privileges.

It follows cases in which several notorious murderers avoided facing up to the judge.

The law has already been changed to allow an extra two years for those who refuse, but the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) admitted it's "little deterrent" to people on a very long sentence.

Ministers hope the new penalties will be a tougher deterrent and give offenders "something more to lose".

The MoJ said the plans will allow crown court judges to impose the following penalties:

- Loss of prison privileges for almost three months (84 days)
- Cellular confinement for up to three weeks (21 days)
- Loss of social visits for nearly a month (27 days)
- Restrictions on social visits to once every four weeks, for almost three months (84 days)

Killers who disrupt their sentencing hearing will be subject to the same consequences.

Visits from prisoners' children will be exempt in cases where it's in the child's best interests.

Eighteen to 20-year-olds in young offender institutions will also only face up to 10 days' confinement, while the removal of other privileges will be capped at 21 days.

The MoJ said no penalty can guarantee prisoners attend sentencing but the new rules will "strengthen the consequences".

"Criminals should not be able to pick and choose when they face justice," said prisons minister Catherine McKinnell.

"Refusing to turn up to sentencing is an insult to victims and their families, and offenders must face the consequences."

The victims' commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman, also welcomed the move.

She said the announcement was testament to "the tireless efforts of victims' families who refused to accept that offenders could simply opt out of facing justice".

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Ms Waxman added: "Having worked with the families of Sabina Nessa, Zara Aleena and Jan Mustafa, I know how offenders' refusal to attend sentencing hearings compounds trauma and robs families of one of the very few moments of accountability in the justice process.

"Their determined campaigning, alongside that of Olivia Pratt-Korbel's family, helped ensure that this harm could no longer be ignored."

Other killers who have refused to attend sentencing include triple crossbow killer Kyle Clifford, while Southport knifeman Axel Rudakubana was removed from court after shouting and claiming he felt ill.

The plans will be introduced to parliament on Thursday and should come into effect next year.

(c) Sky News 2026: Killers who refuse to attend sentencing will face new penalties under government plan