17 March 2023 , 07:30
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Serial killer Levi Bellfield has started legal action funded by the taxpayer after his bid to marry his besotted girlfriend in prison was blocked.
The 54-year-old, whose victims include Milly Dowler, 13, is threatening a judicial review and has joked with other jailbirds his fight "is costing me f*** all".
It could trigger a legal battle with Justice Secretary Dominic Raab who wants to ban those serving life sentences from marrying under a Victims Bill.
He argues it will protect women against being coerced and controlled by lags.
Bellfield filed for a marriage application to marry his unnamed fiancée, in her 40s, in January 2021.
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Millie Dowler was killed in 2002 aged 13 (PA)In a letter sent by law firm Carringtons on March 8, he says it is "unlawful" to stop him tying the knot, reports the Sun.
It also makes reference to the 1983 Marriage Act and the European Convention on Human Rights which outlines convicts' right to marry.
The twisted murderer warns of action if his legal team don't receive a response within 14 days.
Justice Secretary Dominic Raab says he plans to "move quickly" to changer the law.
He told LBC: "Passing a law is never about any individual case.
Student Marsha McDonnell (PA)
Amélie Delagrange was a 22-year-old French student visiting the UK (PA)"But I don't think it is appropriate and, both within the realm of the existing powers that I have but also the legislative agenda, on which I will be saying more shortly, I think it is wrong.
"I think particularly in that kind of case, I think a lot of people, and I know your listeners will find it an affront to the basic system of criminal justice.
"But I also think there is a question around the risk around anyone who would marry an offender as egregious as, in this case, Levi Bellfield.
"What we protectively do to make sure they aren't subject, or vulnerable people aren't subject to that element of risk. So on both factors, I'm committed to doing what we can to prevent that taking place."
Bellfield is currently being held at Frankland Prison in County Durham.
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Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab (AFP via Getty Images)He was convicted in 2008 of the murders of Marsha McDonnell, 19, and Amelie Delagrange, 22.
Three years later he was convicted of the Milly's 2002 murder.
A source told the Sun: “Bellfield’s laughing that he’s getting all this help for free. It’s alarming that, as things stand, his barristers have the law on their side.
“The prison has kicked this into the long grass because they don’t want it to happen, but legally they will probably have to allow it.”
A Prison Service spokesperson told the Mirror: “The application is being considered in the usual way.”