Four years after the brutal rape and murder of Sarah Everard, her mother has spoken of the 'horror' that continues to torment her, as a damning independent inquiry reveals that too many perpetrators of sexually motivated crimes are still evading detection and prosecution.
A Mother's Unending Grief
Susan Everard, Sarah's mother, has given a powerful and heartbreaking account of her family's loss. She described how she 'rages against' the death of her 33-year-old daughter, a marketing executive who was abducted and murdered by serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens in March 2021.
'I read that you shouldn't let a tragedy define you, but I feel that Sarah's death is such a big part of me that I'm surprised there is no outer sign of it,' she said. 'Outwardly we live our normal lives, but there is an inner sadness.'
She added that while the initial shock has diminished, they are 'left with an overwhelming sense of loss and what might have been.' 'All the happy, ordinary things of life have been stolen from Sarah and us—there will be no wedding, no grandchildren, no family celebrations,' she said.
Mrs Everard revealed she is still tormented by thoughts of her daughter's final hours. 'When I think of her, I still can't get past the horrors of her last hours. I am still tormented by the thought of what she endured.'
Inquiry Exposes Systemic Failures
The emotional testimony comes alongside the publication of part two of the Angiolini Inquiry, led by Lady Elish Angiolini KC. The report delivers a scathing assessment of how sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces are being tackled in England and Wales.
Despite government and police promises following a national outcry over Sarah's murder, the inquiry found a 'troubling lack of momentum, funding and ambition.' Lady Angiolini warned that 'too often prevention in this space remains just words.'
Astonishingly, the report states that police forces are unable to answer 'basic questions' and still do not know how many women are being raped in public spaces. It concludes that 'too many perpetrators are slipping through the cracks in an overworked system.'
The lawyer also hit out at police for failing to implement key recommendations from her first report, including barring officers with convictions or cautions for sexual offences from serving.
The Impact of Online Misogyny
The inquiry extended its criticism to the online world, highlighting its role in normalising violence against women. It warned that in digital spaces, 'misogyny and hatred towards women not only flourishes but is disgustingly celebrated.'
Lady Angiolini pointed to the impact of pornography, to which Couzens was addicted, stating that the gap between the online and physical world is closing. 'Online spaces are becoming increasingly violent and degrading places,' she said.
The report calls for society to 'stop normalising misogynistic perpetrator behaviour and attitudes.' It estimates that around half of women in the UK feel unsafe due to the actions of men.
A Call for Urgent Action
In her stark conclusions, Lady Angiolini stated: 'My report sets out how sexually motivated crimes against women remain widespread across public spaces in England and Wales, yet efforts to prevent them are fragmented, underfunded and overly reliant on short-term solutions.'
She issued a direct plea to leaders: 'I want leaders to quite simply get a move on. There are lives at stake.' She emphasised that women deserve not only to feel safer but to be safer.
Responding to the findings, Susan Everard said the report 'shows how much work there is to do in preventing sexually motivated crimes against women.' Her words and the inquiry's evidence present a united call for transformative change, four years after a crime that was meant to be a watershed moment for women's safety.
