Britain's most hated officer Wayne Couzens is seeking permission to appeal against his whole-life term for kidnapping, raping and murdering Sarah Everard.
The Met firearms officer used Covid powers to conduct a fake arrest of the 33-year-old marketing executive as she walked home from a friend's house in March, before committing crimes so horrific they shocked the nation and undermined confidence in the police.
Handing down a whole-life sentence at the Old Bailey last month, Lord Justice Fulford said Couzens, 48, who had pleaded guilty to kidnap, rape and murder, 'used his position as a police officer' to kidnap Miss Everard in Clapham.
But in the latest twist, a court official said on Tuesday: 'We have been notified that an appeal has been lodged by Mr Couzens,' The Mirror reported. If permission is granted, the case will be heard by the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.
Couzens is one of over 60 criminals serving whole-life sentences. They are reserved for the most serious crimes such as serial killings and politically motivated murders.
Lord Justice Fulford said by misusing his police role to kidnap, rape and murder Sarah, his crime was 'of equal seriousness as a murder carried out for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause'.
Couzens joins infamous killers such as British soldier Lee Rigby's murderer Michael Adebolajo, police officer killer Dale Cregan and Mark Bridger, who murdered five-year-old April Jones.
Moors murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley also got whole-life orders. Serial killer Levi Bellfield is unique in being given two.
Britain's most hated police officer Wayne Couzens is seeking permission to appeal against his whole-life term for kidnapping, raping and murdering Sarah Everard
A slew of claims have come to light about Couzens since he was jailed for his life with no chance of parole after he kidnapped, raped and murdered Miss Everard.
Couzens is known to have committed an indecent exposure, driving round naked from the waist down in his car, when he served with them in 2015.
He has also been identified as being responsible for carrying out the same offence at a McDonald's restaurant days before he targeted Miss Everard.
On March 3, he staged a fake Covid arrest, handcuffed Miss Everard and put her in his car before driving 80 miles to Kent where he raped and murdered her. Days later, he burned her body and left it in woods near land he owned.
A slew of claims have come to light about Couzens since he was jailed for his life with no chance of parole after he kidnapped, raped and murdered Miss Everard
The Met has faced a wave of criticism over missed opportunities to expose Couzens as a sexual predator before he went on to murder Miss Everard.
It emerged the 48-year-old was known as 'the rapist' by staff at the Civil Nuclear Constabulary because he made female colleagues feel so uncomfortable.
He had been accused of indecent exposure in Kent in 2015 and in London in the days before Ms Everard's murder, but was allowed to continue working.
Priti Patel has announced there will be an independent inquiry into the 'systematic failures' that allowed Wayne Couzens to serve as a Met police officer. The Home Secretary said that 'recent tragic events have exposed unimaginable failures in policing'.
She said that the public 'have a right to know' why Couzens was able to be employed by the Metropolitan Police.
Addressing the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Miss Patel said: 'I can confirm today, there will be an inquiry, to give the independent oversight needed, to ensure something like this can never happen again.'
The inquiry will look at Couzens' career in the Metropolitan Police and determine if red flags were missed to identify him as a threat.
The probe is likely to be viewed as a warning shot at Met chief Cressida Dick who has faced calls to quit following the murder of Miss Everard.
The inquiry will be split into two parts, with the first examining Couzens' previous behaviour.
It will seek to establish a 'definitive account' of his conduct leading up to his conviction, as well 'any opportunities missed'. The second part of the probe will look at 'specific issues raised by the first part of the inquiry'. That could include examining wider issues across policing, including vetting practices, discipline and workplace behaviour.
Miss Patel will also write to the independent police inspectorate HMICFRS to commission a 'thematic inspection of vetting and counter-corruption procedures in policing across England and Wales'. This will look at how forces detect and deal with misogynistic and predatory behaviour.
The Home Office said the inquiry will be established on a non-statutory footing but 'can be converted to a statutory inquiry if required'.
A chairman for the inquiry and its terms of reference will be announced by the Government in due course.
On March 3, Couzens staged a fake Covid arrest, handcuffed Sarah Everard (pictured), 33, and put her in his car before driving 80 miles to Kent where he raped and murdered her
