Letby to be locked at prison where Baby P's mum and Rose West were jailed

21 August 2023 , 14:54

817     0

Letby to be locked at prison where Baby P's mum and Rose West were jailed

Britain's most prolific child killer Lucy Letby will serve life behind bars with the country's most depraved murderers - but will first be held in segregation to stop her being attacked.

The nurse, who went on a year-long killing spree at the Countess of Chester Hospital and was jailed for life today, will be in HMP Low Newton in Durham, which has also caged Baby P's mum and Rose West among other villains. It is next door to the so-called "Monster Mansion" HMP Frankland, which holds Ian Huntley, Wayne Couzens and Levi Belfield.

Letby, 33, was originally held in HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, but was subsequently moved to HMP New Hall in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, for the trial, following which a jury took 22 days and 110 hours and 26 minutes of deliberations to find her guilty of the murder of seven babies.

Lucy Letby, 33, will serve life behind bars for killing seven babies (Facebook/ Cavendish Press)

This is one of the general population prison cells in HMP Low Newton where Letby will stay (HMP Low Newton)

Now, the nurse, originally from Hereford, will share a notorious jail with Joanna Dennehy, who slayed three men during a 10-day spree in 2013, and Emma Aitken, another murderer, jailed in 2014.

But, as a multiple child killer, Letby will ultimately be viewed with extreme hostility by most behind bars and likely placed initially into the prison's segregation unit at first. The area can hold up to three women and is clean, but lacks some facilities.

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Inspection reports on the jail said: "Cells were not well equipped, with only a bed, toilet and sink. The regime was limited, with only an hour a day in the open air and half an hour to complete daily tasks, such as showering."

Letby may have access to a store, which was housed there during the pandemic, if and when she is put into the main prison population. The Rags to Riches shop featured well-known clothing brands that inmates were able to buy.

The nurse is arrested at home in Chester in a picture issued to the media by police (Cheshire Constabulary/AFP via Ge)

The defendant today became only the fourth woman in UK history to receive a whole-life order. Whole-life orders are the most severe punishment available in the country's criminal justice system and are reserved for those who commit the most heinous crimes. Manchester Crown Court had heard Letby showed "premeditation, calculation and cunning" in her twisted actions.

Letby was not present for sentencing but in an address, which will be printed and given to the killer, judge Mr Justice Goss said: "There was premeditation, calculation and cunning in your actions. Loving parents have been robbed of their cherished children. You have caused deep psychological trauma.

"You acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring professions."

Bradley Jolly