Sarah Everard murder: Wayne Couzens applies to appeal against whole-life sentence

Wayne Couzens admitted murder, kidnap and rape

A Met Police officer who killed Sarah Everard after kidnapping her under the guise of an arrest has applied to appeal against his prison term.

Wayne Couzens abducted the 33-year-old as she walked home from a friend's house in south London on 3 March.

During sentencing, the judge had said the abuse of power was so exceptional that it warranted a whole-life order.

It was the first time the sentence had been imposed for a single murder of an adult not committed in a terror attack.

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A Court of Appeal official said on Wednesday: "An application (for permission to mount an appeal against sentence) has been lodged."

When sentencing Couzens last month, Lord Justice Fulford described the circumstances of the kidnap, rape and murder as "grotesque", telling him he had "betrayed" his family.

Sarah Everard had been walking to her home in Brixton when she disappeared

He said the seriousness of the case was so "exceptionally high" it warranted a whole-life order.

Reacting to the sentencing, Ms Everard's family said they were pleased with the full-life term, adding that although "nothing can make things better, nothing can bring Sarah back... knowing he will be imprisoned forever brings some relief."

Earlier this month, Reading terrorist Khairi Saadallah lost a Court of Appeal challenge against his whole-life sentence for the murders of three men, following a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice.