Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens has admitted to the kidnap and rape of Sarah Everard at the Old Bailey.

Sarah, 33, vanished while walking home from a friend’s house in Clapham, south London, in March.

Couzens, 48, appeared at the Old Bailey on this morning, where he pleaded guilty to kidnapping Ms Everard “unlawfully and by force or fraud” on 3 March, and to rape between 2 March and 10 March.

The defendant only said “Guilty, sir” when asked for his plea to the charges.

He also accepted responsibility for the killing of Ms Everard, but no plea was entered, pending medical reports ahead of another hearing on 9 July.

Appearing via video link from Belmarsh Prison, Couzens wore khaki trousers and a grey sweatshirt.

Members of the Ms Everard’s family were in court to hear the defendant make the pleas.

Ms Everard’s disappearance sparked a major investigation, with her body being found in a woodland in Ashford, Kent a week later.

Last week, police revealed that Ms Everard’s cause of death was “compression of the neck”.

There is a provisional trial date set for October.

Related posts:

‘Things are utterly dire’: Family of missing Sarah Everard ‘distraught’, says uncle Man held over Sarah Everard disappearance arrested on suspicion of murder, as police search woods Lottery winner ‘who took eyes off road to get teddy for son’ cleared of killing woman by dangerous driving Britons arriving in Portugal must quarantine for 14 days if not fully vaccinated from today Southgate warns of ‘really tough game’ against ‘well-prepared, accomplished’ Germany Relaxing restrictions ‘increases the risk of vaccine-resistant strains emerging’, researchers warn New COVID cases in UK rise for first time in a week – as number of daily deaths is down Fuel crisis may last another ‘week or so’, says minister – a day after one said it was ‘under control’ BBC presenter injured while playing ‘crash test dummy’ for TV show awarded £1.6m damages Electrician accused of double murder ‘sexually assaulted dead bodies in mortuaries’, court hears Protesters carry cardboard coffins on march against smart motorways Motorist aimed gun at police parliamentary protection officer after London car chase