Sarah Everard’s heartbroken parents last night warned many murder victims’ families are living without justice because criminals are being let off lightly.

Jeremy and Susan Everard said monster Wayne Couzen’s whole life order “made us feel that the enormity of his crime was recognised”.

The pair are today backing a new campaign to lock murderers and sex offenders up for longer, with families still “fighting for justice” as many sentences are not “respectful” of victims’ memories.

A group of bereaved families warn the entire justice system is “loaded towards the criminals”, with killers able to eventually leave prison and restart their lives while their victims are “never coming back home”. The intervention comes as Labour plots to send fewer criminals to prison to prevent future overcrowding crises behind bars.

Jeremy and Susan Everard said ahead of a meeting with the Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch: “We feel it is important that sentences should truly reflect the seriousness of the crime and give victims, their families and society a sense of justice having been served.

“Although nothing can alleviate the sense of loss, it is a relief to us that our daughter’s murderer received a whole life order.

“It made us feel that the enormity of his crime was recognised and that our daughter’s life was valued.

“We know of other families in similar circumstances who have not had this small comfort; we feel it is important that sentences should truly reflect the seriousness of the crime and give victims, their families and society a sense of justice having been served.”

Marketing executive Sarah Everard, 33, was kidnapped, raped and murdered by serving police officer Wayne Couzens in March 2021.

The case prompted nationwide outrage, with judge Lord Justice Fulford telling Couzens as he was sentenced: “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.

“All of these situations attack different aspects of the fundamental underpinnings of our democratic way of life.”

A new campaign group – Justice for Victims – was formed amid ongoing public concern about serious criminals escaping proper punishment.

More than 70 offenders are currently serving whole life orders.

Katie Brett’s sister, Sasha, was just 16 she was raped and stabbed more than 100 times in 2013. But killer David Minto was sentenced to a minimum of 35 years behind bars, prompting further heartache for the family.

The trial heard it was a sexually motivated attack and he dumped his victim in a nearby alley before trying to set the body on fire.

Ms Brett said: “You hear about people getting a life sentence. The people who really get the life sentence are families like mine. In the end most murderers end up getting out of prison- sometimes as after as little 15 or 20 years.

“My sister had decades of life ahead of her. Surely if you take a life the starting point should be spending the rest of your life in prison?

“That’s what we wanted as a family and what would have been respectful of my sister’s memory. I think that’s what most families would want and I think most people would support that.

“The whole system seems loaded towards the criminals. In our case, we only had 28 days to appeal the sentence – when we were grieving and traumatised.

“But criminals are allowed to appeal after this in “exceptional circumstances”. Why don’t victims and their families get this right? This is just one example and I hope working with this group we can start to put justice for victims at the top of the agenda.”

Ayse Hussein, whose cousin Mihrican “Jan” Mustafa, 38, was murdered by a convicted paedophile in 2019, also told ministers “give us what our loved one deserved – justice”.

Ms Mustafa went missing in May 2018 and her body was found in a freezer in her murderer Zahid Younis’s flat in Canning Town, east London, alongside the remains of Henriett Szucs, 34.

Ms Hussein said: “The term “life sentence” is an insult and often gets reported as “jailed for life”.

“It doesn’t mean that at all. I know one day my cousin’s murderer will probably be getting out of prison and going back to his family. Jan is never coming back home to ours.

“Families are not left to grieve for the loss of their loved one. Instead we have to pick up the pieces of all these failings and errors and to fight and campaign together for change.

“If someone commits more than one offence it’s almost as if each victim isn’t properly recognised, that they aren’t worth as much, because the sentence is served at the same time.

“We have to start listening to the views of all victims and the public on what justice means. We aren’t getting justice often enough so listen, learn and treat us all the same. Give us what our loved one deserved – justice.”

Other victims’ families who are part of the group include the parents of four-year-old Violet-Grace Youens, who was killed by a motorist driving at more than 80mph in a 30mph zone in 2017.

Aidan McAteer was jailed for nine years and four months for Violet’s death but served about half his sentence.

Becky and Glenn Youens said: “Yesterday was the eighth anniversary of Violet-Grace’s tragic death and we find ourselves still fighting for justice.

“Violet-Grace was in the right place at the right time—it was her killers who were in the wrong place.

“They took her life without giving her a second chance, yet criminals like these are nearly always given another opportunity after serving their so-called sentences.

“Criminals who take the lives of innocent children or abuse them are not getting the sentences they deserve.

“This has to change. We hope that everyone who agrees will stand with us and support this campaign.

“Nothing will ever bring Violet-Grace back, but we are fighting in her memory. Her legacy must be real justice for other families who must endure the unimaginable loss we live with every single day.”

Paula Hudgell, the adoptive mother of double amputee Tony Hudgell, 10, is also part of the group.

Tony was 41 days old when he was assaulted by his birth parents, an attack which caused multiple fractures and dislocations, and blunt trauma to the face, leading to organ failure, toxic shock and sepsis.

He was left untreated and in agony for 10 days and because of the extent of his injuries both his legs had to be amputated.

Jody Simpson and her partner Anthony Smith were jailed for 10 years in 2018.

Ms Hudgell OBE “When criminals abuse children they are creating a devastating impact for the rest of that child’s life.

“Many decades can be spent wrestling with the aftermath.

“Yet perpetrators can be out of prison living a free life whilst the suffering for the victim goes on for decades.

“We need a justice system that reflects that properly.

“I have seen so many cases of child abusers that don’t get a punishment that fits the crime. Let alone child murderers – they shouldn’t get out of prison in my view.”

Commenting on the launch of the group, Shadow Justice Minister Dr Kieran Mullan MP said: “For too long our sentencing system has not given enough consideration to what victims, their families and the wider public would consider to be justice.

“This leaves so many people feeling let down. There are plenty of groups speaking up for what’s best for the perpetrators and asking for more lenient sentences.

“Justice for Victims can now play a powerful role in balancing that out.

“It’s been a privilege to meet with and support these incredibly brave and strong people who want to do something positive in spite of the horrendous circumstances they have and continue to have to live through.

“They should be very proud of what they are doing.”