Human remains found in Kent belong to Sarah Everard

The discovery was made at a site in woodlands near Ashford, Kent on Wednesday.

The sad news was confirmed by Met Police Assistant commissioner Nick Ephgrave in a statement at New Scotland Yard on Friday.

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 Everard.”

Read more: Police investigating Sarah Everard case search underground tunnels in Dover

He went on to confirm that Sarah Everard's family had been updated on the "most distressing news."

He said his “thoughts and prayers, and those of the entire organisation” remain with Sarah 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.

Read more: Sarah Everard suspect previously 'exposed himself in south London restaurant'

“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.”

The primary suspect in the murder, a police officer, remains in custody as of Friday.

The arrested officer, who is in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was treated for a head injury sustained while in custody on Thursday. He was later discharged and returned to the police station where he is being held.

The Met later said he had sustained the injury while alone in his cell and received immediate first aid.

Read more: Police u-turn on Sarah Everard vigil in south London

Ms Everard vanished while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London on March 3, with her suspected kidnap and murder prompting anger over the safety of women on the UK’s streets.