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After more than 10 months of harrowing evidence and jury deliberations, Lucy Letby will go down as one of the UK's most notorious child killers, never to be released from prison.

The details of Letby's "sadistic" murder and attempted murder campaign have been difficult for anyone to hear - but none more so than the victims' families.

Sky News is among just a few media organisations to have covered the trial since it began in October to its culmination today.

As Letby begins her whole-life sentence in prison, we're bringing our live coverage to an end.

Child killer Lucy Letby's refusal to attend court for the conclusion of her trial has sparked outrage - and calls for changes in the law.

Our news reporter Lara Keay has produced this explainer on how and why Letby was able to skip court for the most pivotal part of this monumental trial...

Difficulties around forcing defendants to attend sentencing and victim statements could be solved through technology, according to a top lawyer. 

Lucy Letby failed to show up to court today to hear victim impact statements and her own sentencing, leading many commentators to call for the enforcement of attendance for defendants. 

Kirsty Brimelow, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said there would be concerns around enforcing such a rule - which could see defendants shout or make a scene during particularly sensitive moments, as well as pose a physical risk to officers bringing defendants to and from the dock.  

Some suggestions included introducing a mandatory weblink to prison cells, which Ms Brimelow said could work.

"I think technology probably is the answer, in that we're in very different times to pre-COVID and it's very common now to have live links to prisons," she said.

A visual link could be dangerous if defendants choose to disrupt proceedings, but knowing offenders are listening to victim impact statements and sentencing could be beneficial, she added. 

Lucy Letby has been handed 14 whole-life sentences for her crimes, which included the murder and attempted murder of 13 babies. 

The judge imposed a whole-life order for each offence she committed, meaning she will spend the rest of her life in prison.

As we outlined earlier, she becomes only the fourth woman to be given the sentence in the UK, joining Rose West, Joanna Christine Dennehy and deceased moors murderer Myra Hindley.

West was infamously convicted of 10 murders in 1995 alongside her husband Fred West, while Dennehy stabbed three men to death and dumped their bodies in ditches outside Peterborough in March 2013.

Hindley, who murdered five children alongside partner Ian Brady, died behind bars in 2002.

This makes Letby one of just three women alive currently serving whole-life orders, and the fourth to be given the sentence in British history.

Whole-life orders are reserved exclusively for offenders like Lucy Letby, an ex-senior police officer has said.

"It's the only sentence that really would have been applicable in this case," former senior investigating officer Simon Harding said.

"It's a very sad day for many families, but they have justice in a way, some didn't which we need to think of as well," he added. 

"It [a whole-life order] is reserved for people like this, who stand out for their particular crimes... this is taking the lives of the most innocent and vulnerable members of our society and it is pleasing that she will never see the light of day again," Mr Harding said. 

When nurse Lucy Letby returned from a trip to Ibiza in June 2016, she texted a colleague to say she would be "back in with a bang".

Within 72 hours of that message, two triplet siblings were dead.

But it would be two more years until Letby was finally arrested, and a further five before she was brought to justice for her evil crimes.

This is how the police caught Lucy Letby...

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to help the government overturn the law that allowed Lucy Letby to skip today's impact statements and sentencing. 

Speaking to reporters in the aftermath of the whole-life order sentencing, Sir Keir said Labour were not "thinking about party politics".

"We're thinking about the victims, making an absolutely open offer to the government, we'll work with you, overcome the practical considerations, and let's get this done, let's get the law changed."

Lucy Letby has entered the history books today. She's the most prolific child murder in modern British history. 

She's joins the ranks of Rose West and Myra Hindley in becoming of Britain's most prolific female serial killers too.

The disgraced nurse is now a medical monster, like GP Harold Shipmand and nurse Beverley Allitt.

But what goes on inside the mind of a serial killer? 

Our reporter Gemma Peplow has been speaking to psychologists about what motivates such horrific crimes.

We've just heard from the police involved in bringing Lucy Letby to justice, with deputy senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Evans sharing this statement: 

"Today, Lucy Letby has been handed a whole life order.

"The sentence reflects the true scale and gravity of her horrific crimes and ensures that a calculated and dangerous individual is behind bars for a very long time.

"Nothing will bring back the babies who died or take away the pain and suffering experienced by all of the families over the years but I hope that the significant sentence will bring some comfort at this dark time.

"The victim impact statements read out in court today on behalf of the parents are a chilling reminder of the pain and suffering that each family has had to endure over the years.

"Hearing their own experiences in their own words has been truly heartbreaking.

"I would once again like to say thank you to the families for putting your trust in us and for supporting an investigation that has been running for six years and a trial that has spanned almost 12 months.

"Our thoughts remain with you all at this incredibly difficult time 鈥� you are truly remarkable and will always have a place in our hearts."