Rashford calls on men to 'listen and protect' women following Everard's death

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has urged men to play a role to help women feel safe following the death of Sarah Everard and offered his condolences to her family.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday that human remains found in woodland in Ashford, Kent belonged to the 33-year-old marketing executive after she went missing on March 3.

And United star Rashford - who was given an MBE last year after his successful campaign to ensure children were fed during the coronavirus pandemic - reacted to the news, describing it as a 'heartbreaking' and something that 'should never have happened'.

'This is just heartbreaking, I'm so sorry,' he tweeted.

'This should have never happened. Men we have a role to play. To listen, to protect, and to allow women to feel safe at whatever time of day. I have sisters, nieces... just horrible. I'm sending my love to Sarah's family.'

Ms Everard disappeared while walking home from a friend's flat in Clapham, south London to her residence in Brixton 10 days ago.

Wayne Couzens, 48, a firearms officer from Scotland Yard's elite Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was charged with her kidnap and murder on Friday night after more than three days of questioning by murder detectives.

Couzens is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Saturday.

Speaking outside Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave added Miss Everard's family had been told this 'most distressing news'.

He said: 'As you know, on Wednesday evening detectives investigating the disappearance of Sarah Everard discovered a body secreted in woodland in Kent.

'The body has now been recovered and formal identification procedure has now been undertaken. I can now confirm that it is the body of Sarah.'

He said his 'thoughts and prayers, and those of the entire organisation' remain with Miss Everard's family 'at this awful time'.

He added: 'Specialist officers remain in constant contact with Sarah's family, and will continue to support them throughout the investigation and beyond.

'That investigation continues at a pace and we have hundreds of officers working round the clock to establish the full circumstances of Sarah's disappearance, and her murder.'

'I would like at this stage to pay tribute to Sarah's family for their fortitude and forbearance through what can only have been the most intensely difficult few days. Our thoughts remain with them as this matter progresses.'

Her suspected kidnap and murder has caused anger over the safety of women on the country's streets.

Women across the UK have shared their experiences of violence and harassment they have and continue to experience.

A 'Reclaim These Streets' vigil was due to take place at Clapham Common bandstand on Saturday, but organisers have lost their legal fight after a High Court judged refused to overturn the police's ban citing Covid-19 rules.