Southport killer, Axel Rudakubana, has been sentenced to a minimum of 52 years in prison for the "cruel" murders of three young girls. The attacks have been described as "shocking" and "pure evil".

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Seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stankom, six-year-old Bebe O'Brien, and nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar died in the attack, while eight other children and two adults – dance class leader Leanne Lucas and businessman Jonathan Hayes – were seriously injured.

The 18-year-old refused to enter the dock as he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court. He had earlier been removed from the dock for disruptive behavior, which included asking for medical staff and shouting "I feel unwell". Passing sentence, Judge Goose said: "Many who have heard the evidence might describe his actions as evil, and who could argue with that?"

Earlier, details of Rudakubana’s crimes were presented in vivid detail for the first time in court, including CCTV and dashcam footage from outside the Hart Space studio on Hart Street. The court heard that just after 11:45 am BST on July 29, Rudakubana walked through the packed Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop run by Ms. Lucas and "methodically" stabbed the young girls as they sat making friendship bracelets and singing along to Swift's music.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC also described how Rudakubana gloated about the attacks as he was escorted through Copy Lane police station after his arrest, saying he was "happy the children were dead". The court heard the teenager booked a taxi to Hart Street after leaving his old school near his home in Banks, West Lancashire, at 11:10 am BST. Ms. Heer played footage of Rudakubana asking the driver to direct him to the dance class address, after which he got out without paying.

The driver’s dashcam also captured Rudakubana walking up the stairs of the Hart Space building to the first-floor studio, where 26 children, Ms. Lucas, and her colleague and friend Heidi Liddell were present. Seconds later, the court was filled with the screams of children as footage showed the girls pouring out of the Hart Space dance studio. The families of the victims wept in the public gallery as Ms. Heer played footage of the three girls staggering into the street and collapsing, including two survivors and Alice.

Unlike Bebe and Elsie Dot, Alice managed to escape the building despite her serious injuries but collapsed next to a woman’s car who had arrived to pick up her daughter. Inside the studio, Bebe had been stabbed 122 times, while Elsie Dot was stabbed 85 times. Ms. Liddell and another child hid in a locked toilet outside. Ms. Liddell later described how she realized some children had not escaped when she heard them pleading with Rudakubana to stop.

Police arrived on Hart Street shortly before 11:59 am BST. Three officers and a member of the public, window cleaner Joel Virr, ran up the stairs to find Rudakubana standing over the body of Bebe O’Brien, holding a knife. Police bodycam footage showed Mr. Virr being tackled to the ground as he was shocked and horrified by Bebe’s injuries. Shortly after, Ms. Liddell and the child she had hidden with cried in fear and relief as police told them it was safe to come out.

One of the survivors, a seven-year-old girl referred to as Child A, was dragged back inside the building by Rudakubana as she tried to escape and repeatedly stabbed before she managed to stagger into the street and collapse. A statement written by Child A’s mother and read by Ms. Heer said her father had been “broken” by what had happened to their daughter. “Not only did our daughter experience the most violent, frenzied attack on her body, but she witnessed too much horror.”

Ms. Lucas, the dance class leader, looked around the packed courtroom at the families of the other victims and survivors as she read her statement to the court. She said: "He targeted us because we were women and girls, vulnerable and easy prey." "The fact that he was always looking to hurt the vulnerable is just beyond comprehension." "For Alice, Elsie, Bebe, Heidi, and the girls who survived, I will live for you."

Ms. Heer also read victim impact statements, in which the heartbroken families of two of the murdered girls called their daughters’ killer “pure evil” and said his actions had left them in “constant pain”. Defence barrister Stan Reiz KC told the court that Rudakubana appeared to be a “normal child” until he was about 13 years old. Mr. Reiz said: “There is no psychiatric evidence before the court to indicate a mental disorder led to the defendant’s actions.” “However, he did transition from being a normal, well-behaved child into someone who was capable of committing such shocking and senseless violence.”

Passing sentence, Judge Goose said: “I am sure that Rudakubana was determined to carry out these crimes and if he could have done so, he would have killed every child – all 26 of them.” Judge Goose confirmed the crimes did not meet the legal definition of terrorism because he did not kill to advance a political, religious, or ideological cause. However, he told the packed court, “it doesn’t matter whether the motivation was terrorism”. “What he did on July 29 last year caused such shock and revulsion throughout the country that it must be regarded as being in the highest category of offending,” the judge said. “His culpability, and the harm that he caused and intended to cause, are both of the highest order.”

Rudakubana was sentenced for three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, one count of making the biological toxin ricin, and one count of possessing an al-Qaeda training manual under the Terrorism Act. In a statement after the hearing, Elsie’s family thanked the emergency services who responded to the incident. “We are incredibly grateful for their bravery, compassion, and strength which should be an example to everyone,” they said. The family also thanked Sir Keir Starmer, King Charles, and the Prince and Princess of Wales for arranging private meetings where they offered their condolences.

Earlier, the Prime Minister said the “thoughts of the whole country” were with the families of Rudakubana’s victims. Sir Keir said: “I want to say directly to the survivors, the families, and the community in Southport – you are not alone. We grieve with you.” “The events in Southport were an atrocity and, as the judge said, this despicable criminal will likely never be released.” “Following one of the most harrowing moments in our nation’s history, it is our duty to bring about the change that these innocent young girls and all those affected deserve.”