• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Difference between whole life order and life sentence as Lucy Letby to die behind bars

Home> News> UK News

Updated 09:08 22 Aug 2023 GMT+1Published 13:40 21 Aug 2023 GMT+1

Difference between whole life order and life sentence as Lucy Letby to die behind bars

A 'life sentence' doesn't necessarily mean for life

Kit Roberts

Kit Roberts

Former neonatal nurse and serial killer, Lucy Letby, has become only the fourth woman in UK history, and the third living, to be given a whole life order.

Letby, 33, was convicted of the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six. Today she was sentenced, and will die in prison.

Lucy Letby was found guilty of the murder of seven babies and attempting to murder six more.
Handout Photo by Cheshire Constabulary via Getty Images

Advert

The killer was given a 'whole life order'. This is the most severe sentence which can be imposed in a UK criminal court, and is different from a regular life sentence.

If you are found guilty of murder then you must be given a life sentence.

A 'life sentence' by itself does not necessarily mean you will spend the rest of your life in prison, and actual custody terms can vary depending on the severity of the offence.

The 'life' part of the sentence comes from the fact that you will spend the rest of your life on licence after your release.

This is different from a regular sentence where you would serve either half or two thirds of the sentence in custody and the remainder released on licence.

Advert

For example, if you are sentenced to five years, you would spend two and a half years in prison and then two and a half on licence, meaning that if you so much as steal a chocolate bar, you are returned to prison to serve the remainder of your sentence.

For a regular life sentence, that licence period is for the rest of your life.

Lucy Letby at the time of her arrest.
Handout photo by Cheshire Constabulary via Getty Images

A 'whole life order' means that you will spend the rest of your life in prison, with no possibility of release.

This is only reserved for the most serious crimes, and is rarely imposed.

Advert

The other three women who have received the sentence are child killer Myra Hindley - who died in 2002 - and serial killers Rose West and Joanna Dennehy.

That gives a very clear idea of the severity of Letby's crimes and the time required for this sentence.

Nicholas Johnson KC (prosecuting) stated that in the case of Lucy Letby there was a 'very, very clear case' for imposing a whole life order, as one of the most prolific child killers in modern British history.

Sentencing Letby, Mr Justice Goss said: “This was a cruel, calculated, and cynical campaign of child murder involving the smallest and most vulnerable of children, knowing that your actions were causing significant physical suffering and would cause untold mental suffering.

“There was a deep malevolence bordering on sadism in your actions.”

Advert

He concluded: "Lucy Letby, on each of the seven offences of murder and the six offences of attempted murder, I sentence you to imprisonment for life.

"Because the seriousness of your offences is exceptionally high, I direct that the early release provisions do not apply. The order of the court, therefore, is a whole-life order on each and every offence. And you will spend the rest of your life in prison."

Featured Image Credit: Cheshire Police Sean Gladwell via Getty

Topics: Crime, News, UK News, Lucy Letby

Kit Roberts
Kit Roberts

Kit joined LADbible Group in 2023 as a community journalist. They previously worked for StokeonTrentLive, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Star.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Inside Europe’s largest women’s prison where Lucy Letby could die behind bars
  • Crossbow killer Kyle Clifford sentenced to whole life order after murdering BBC commentator’s wife and daughters
  • Only three other women have received same sentence as Lucy Letby as killer will die behind bars
  • Law to be changed after Lucy Letby avoids turning up to her own sentencing

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    British tourist left fighting for her life after catching deadly lung disease on all-inclusive holiday

    Donna Jobling was placed in a medically induced coma 11 days ago after her holiday to Crete took a tragic turn

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Satellite images show impact site of US bombs on Iranian nuclear facilities

    New satellite snaps have revealed the extent of damage done by the US on Iran's military base

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Man posed as a flight attendant for over 100 free flights in case compared to Catch Me If You Can

    Tiron Alexander was found guilty of wire fraud and unlawfully entering a secure airport area under false pretences earlier this month

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Government issues serious sexual health warning for Mounjaro users as weight loss drug set to be available on NHS

    The advice from officials is for a specific group of people

    News