Killers refusing to face their victims’ families in court will spend more time in solitary confinement, ministers have confirmed.

The law is finally being changed to compel criminals to attend sentencing hearings, following numerous scandals and controversies, and tougher penalties.

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Criminals who will die behind bars will be ordered to spend more time in solitary confinement and lose privileges, such as using the gym, the Ministry of Justice said.

Other offenders will face an additional two years behind bars if they refuse to attend sentencing hearings – as well as losing their privileges in prison.

Those who disrupt court proceedings will face similar punishments, under the Victims and Courts Bill, the MoJ said.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “This Bill will deliver long overdue reforms to ensure victims see justice done and are given the vital support they need as they rebuild their lives.

“There is still more work to do as we fix a justice system that was left on the brink of collapse, but this Bill is a step towards rebuilding victims’ confidence through our Plan for Change”

Gangster Thomas Cashman, who shot schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel, baby killer Lucy Letby and monsters Jordan McSweeney, who murdered Zara Aleena, and Koci Selamaj, who killed Sabina Nessa, are all among high profile criminals to have not appeared in the dock after some of Britain’s most heinous offences.

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana was removed from the dock twice after repeatedly shouting and disrupting proceedings.

One family member of a victim branded him a “coward” as he left.

The vile killer then told his lawyer he did not want to attend the sentencing hearing and vowed to disrupt the judge further if he was made to return.

Sex offenders will also have their parental responsibilities restricted and prevented from “actively taking steps in the child’s life, including requesting updates about the child’s schooling or seeking to interfere with their activities, better enabling the family to move forwards with their lives”.

London’s Independent Victims’ Commissioner, Claire Waxman OBE, said: “For too long, offenders found guilty of some of the most heinous crimes have refused to attend sentencing hearings and face justice, their victims, and their victims’ families.

“I have worked closely with Jebina Islam, Farah Naz, and Ayse Hussein in spearheading this campaign and I want to pay tribute to their tireless campaigning, and also thank the family of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who have fought so hard for this.

“Over the last few years, I have met with Ministers, the Judiciary, and justice partners to help shape these proposals to ensure they meet the needs of victims.

“I am pleased this Government has listened and acted on our concerns and have included other measures, such as prison sanctions, which I hope will put an end to this cruel injustice.

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“This Bill will also bring in other important reforms I have long called for, such as measures to remove parental responsibility from convicted child sex offenders, to ensure these victims are better protected, and new powers to strengthen the vital work of the Victims’ Commissioner.

“These are all welcome changes and I’ll continue to do everything I can to ensure victims’ and survivors’ voices and experiences are at the heart of criminal justice reform.”

Killers were able to hide in their cells after chaos engulfed plans to change the law, the Daily Express can reveal.

The Conservatives, under Rishi Sunak, confirmed they wanted to give judges the power to compel murderers to attend their sentencing hearings.

But the Criminal Justice Bill, which contained the measures, did not pass through Parliament before the General Election.