Wayne Couzens

A serving policeman has admitted kidnapping and raping Sarah Everard.

Ms Everard, 33, went missing after leaving a friend’s house in Clapham, south London.

Her body was later found in Kent.

Wayne Couzens, 48, from Deal in Kent, was arrested and charged with her kidnap and murder.

Appearing by a video link from Belmarsh Prison Couzens – a Metropolitan Police officer –  pleaded guilty to her kidnap and rape.

He told the Old Bailey court he accepted responsibility for the killing but was not asked to enter a plea to the charge of murder.

Medical reports about his state of mind at the time of the killing are still being prepared.

A further hearing before Lord Justice Fulford is due to take place on July 9th.

At last month’s inquest into Ms Everard’s death a post-mortem examination revealed she died following compression of the neck.

Her body was found in a builder’s bag.

She had to be identified by her dental records.

Couzens was arrested at his home in Kent.

He is married with two children.