Lucy Letby sentenced to life imprisonment for 15th time | Lucy Letby

Lucy Letby shouted from the dock: “I am innocent” after being sentenced to life in prison for attempting to kill a newborn girl in what the judge called a “shocking act of calculated and cruelty”.

The former neonatal nurse made the remark as she was led into court cells after being sentenced.

Judge James Goss KC asked prison officers to take the defendant to the ground when she turned to face him, raised her hands and said “I'm innocent,” prompting gasps in the courtroom.

Family members of his newborn victim – who had moments earlier described the enduring grief of his crimes – appeared visibly shocked and emotional by Letby's outburst.

Letby, 34, was found guilty Tuesday of attempting to kill an extremely premature infant less than two hours after he was born on Feb. 17, 2016.

Letby was sentenced to life in prison for the 15th time, after being jailed last year for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six others.

Letby was found guilty of attempting to kill a seventh infant, known as Baby K, after a three-week retrial at Manchester Crown Court.

Goss told Letby that she had deliberately interfered with the tiny newborn's breathing tube – born 15 weeks premature and weighing just 692g (1.52lb) – when a nurse briefly left the infant's side.

His actions were “completely contrary to normal human instincts and the care of babies,” he said, and were “in total violation of the trust that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring professions.”

Baby K died three days later after being transferred to another hospital. Letby has not been charged with causing her death.

In sentencing Letby, Goss said she could not be blamed for causing Baby K's death but was guilty of a “shocking act of calculated and cruelty”.

As Letby stared straight ahead, Goss told her she was a “conscientious, hard-working, confident and professional nurse…which allowed her to harm babies without arousing suspicion.”

“You alone know the reason or reasons for your murderous campaign,” he said, adding that the impact of his crimes was “immense.” “You have no remorse. There are no mitigating circumstances,” he added.

Eight members of the jury were present in court to witness the sentencing.

Fighting back tears, Baby K's mother told a silent courtroom how she and her husband were “beyond ecstatic and overwhelmed with love” when they first heard their unborn child's heartbeat, after a previous miscarriage.

She described how their loss had affected every area of ​​their lives, damaging their relationships, friendships and careers. “The impact is felt in every aspect of your life,” she said, “like ripples in water, every layer of your life is affected.”

As Baby K's loved ones stood in the public gallery, Baby K's mother said “the biggest future struggle that torments us every day” was how to tell their children about his death.

“The devastation is so great and so long when a child is lost, let alone the circumstances,” she said. “Will we get answers and the verdict we want? Will it really bring some peace and reconciliation?”

Speaking to Letby on the witness stand, Baby K's mother said her daughter “wasn't here, never will be here, we'll never have what would bring us peace, closure or a sense of being a complete family unit.”

She continued: “However, you, Lucy Letby, will never harm another child and you will never have the privilege and joy that children bring.

“The time and effort you have absorbed over the years will stop today and our attention will remain focused on our beautiful children and building the most exciting and loving life possible.”

Judge Benjamin Myers, representing Letby, said his client “acknowledged sympathy” for the families but maintained her innocence. He added there were no mitigating circumstances. “Sentence is inevitable and I can say nothing more,” he said.