Rapist cop Wayne Couzens 'had secret NHS back op possibly costing £17,000'

Daily Mirror

28-06-2025

Cowardly rapist and murderer Wayne Couzens, who killed Sarah Everard in 2021, was reportedly whisked off for a pricey back operation on the taxpayer's dime
Grim killer cop Wayne Couzens was given an expensive operation on the taxpayers' dime, according to reports. The brutal murderer, 52, is said to have been taken away from the notorious HMP Frankland in County Durham to an NHS hospital for a lumbar procedure costing an estimated £17,000.
The operation on his back, also known as a 'spinal tap', can cost up tp £7,000 - with the process of getting Couzens, who kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard, in and out of the prison possibly costing £10,000, according to The Sun. Couzens reportedly spent a number of days in a hospital before he was taken back to Frankland, around three miles away.
A source told The Sun that Couzens' operation was not an emergency and was carried out to make him 'comfortable', adding that people were "angry" at how the cold-blooded killer was treated and the cost. The source said Couzens is 'constantly moaning in jail', and that he complained about back pain.
It was the source that estimated that a security operation to get the killer from the jail to hospital would have cost the cited £10,000 sum. When approached by the Mirror, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it does not comment on individual prisoners.
The source also said Couzens was taken in a bullet proof 'Category A' van, which requires the supervision of four prison officers and a custody manager.
Former prison governor Vanessa Frake said such a security operation would have needed significant planning, with staff considering the risks to healthcare staff as well as other patients and the public.
Labour's North Durham MP Luke Akehurst said: 'I would be disgusted if it turns out that this vile rapist and murderer was able to jump the queue in front of decent law-abiding people to get his treatment. The cost of the security surrounding his time in hospital is an appalling waste of public money.'
Sarah Everard, 33, was kidnapped and murdered by off-duty police officer Couzens in 2021, who then burned her body.
Concerns over Couzens' treatment operation come as Sarah's family and others who suffered a loved one being murdered called on Sir Keir Starmer to create a new criminal offence against desecrating a body.
Sarah's family was joined by the family of Michael O'Leary, a 55-year-old father of three who was shot dead by his friend Andrew Jones in 2020, after Jones found out the victim was having an affair with his wife.
Jones then burned Mr O'Leary's body on a funeral pyre made of wood pallets, and tried to make it look like he killed himself.
Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies raised the issue in Prime Minister's Questions this month, asking Mr Starmer to meet with the families and hear their plea.
The MP for Caerfyrddin said: "My constituent Mr Michael O'Leary was brutally murdered five years ago and his body was desecrated. I've made a number of requests to discuss his and other victims' cases with ministers and to explore introducing legislation making the desecration of a body a criminal offence."
Responding, Mr Starmer: 'Can I thank her for raising this horrific case and the other similar cases and my thoughts, and I'm sure the thoughts of the whole House, are with Michael's family and all those affected by such vile crimes. I think we all need to listen to what they have to say…I'm sure the justice minister will be in touch at the first opportunity to take this forward