Lucy Letby, the former neonatal nurse who was convicted of killing seven babies in her care, has become the fourth woman in UK history to receive a whole life order for her crimes.
Letby was in her mid-20s when she ended the lives of seven babies and attempted to murder six more, while working in the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.
The 33-year-old is considered the UK's most prolific child killer of recent times and was handed a whole-life order, meaning she will die in prison barring very exceptional circumstances, per Sky News.
A whole-life order is the most severe punishment a court can impose in the UK and, importantly, differs from a life sentence.
Those found guilty of murder in the UK are given a life sentence, however, this does not always mean the offender will spend the rest of their life behind bars.
The actual terms of a life sentence will differ depending on the severity of the crimes committed, and while the offender might be released from prison after several years, they will spend the rest of their life on license.
This also differs from a regular sentence where the person would serve either half or two-thirds of the sentence received and spend the remainder on license, meaning if they commit any crime - no matter how small - they would have to return to prison to serve the rest of their sentence inside.
The key difference between a life sentence and a whole life order is that those on the latter - such as Letby - will spend the rest of their natural life in prison without any chance of release.
This sentence is rarely imposed and is reserved for the most serious of crimes.
Letby is only the fourth woman to receive a whole life order in the UK, with the others being child killer Myra Hindley, as well as serial killers Rose West and Joanna Dennehy.
Nicholas Johnson KC (prosecuting) stated that there was a "very, very clear case" for Letby to receive a whole life sentence for her crimes.
The judge, Mr Justice Goss, said during sentencing: "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."
Letby was sentenced to imprisonment for life for each of the seven murders she committed as well as the six attempted murders.
Mr Justice Goss added: "Because the seriousness of your offenses 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 offense, and you will spend the rest of your life in prison."
Letby had been found guilty of causing deliberate harm to the babies in her care, who were in the neonatal unit of the hospital she worked at.
She is said to have waited until other staff were on breaks to commit her crimes, taking advantage of the fact most people would not assume that a nurse would deliberately harm their patients.
Featured image credit: Cheshire Constabulary via Getty Images
