Britain's most hated police officer Wayne Couzens has lodged an appeal against his whole-life sentence for kidnapping, raping and murdering Sarah Everard.
The depraved killer 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.
The 48-year-old, who used his warrant card and handcuffs to carry out the crime, had been planning for at least a month before abducting Ms Everard as she walked home from a friend's house in Clapham, south London, on the evening of March 3.
A Court of Appeal official said on Wednesday: 'An application (for permission to mount an appeal against sentence) has been lodged.'
Couzens was sentenced in September, with his whole-life term being the first imposed for a single murder of an adult which was not committed in the course of a terror attack.
Passing sentence at the Old Bailey, Lord Justice Fulford said the case in which a serving officer abused his position was so exceptional that it warranted a whole life order, meaning Couzens will never be freed.
It was the first time the sentence had been imposed for a single murder of an adult not committed in the course of a terror attack.
Judge Lord Justice Fulford said at the time: 'The misuse of a police officer's role such as occurred in this case in order to kidnap, rape and murder a lone victim is of equal seriousness as a murder for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.'
After the sentencing, Ms Everard's devastated family said that, while nothing could bring her back, knowing Couzens 'will be imprisoned forever brings some relief'.
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.
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.
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.
Britain's most hated police officer Wayne Couzens has lodged an appeal against his whole-life sentence 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
