Yorkshire Ripper introduced serial killer Levi Bellfield to fiancée
Yorkshire Ripper introduced serial killer Levi Bellfield to his new fiancée – who says her husband-to-be is ‘not a monster’ and has ‘changed’ in prison
- Serial killer Levi Bellfield was introduced to his fiancée by the Yorkshire Ripper
- He saw her picture in Peter Sutcliffe’s cell and asked for consent to write to her
- She said her fiancé is ‘not a monster’ and has ‘changed’ since going to prison
- The pair got engaged when Bellfield went down on one knee in HMP Frankland
Serial killer Levi Bellfield was introduced to his fiancée by the Yorkshire Ripper, who says her future husband has ‘changed’ in prison and is ‘not a monster’.
The woman, a blonde in her 40s who has not been named, is understood to have replied to a letter from Bellfield two years ago, and now visits him weekly.
It has now been revealed that Bellfield, 53, was introduced to his fiancée through Peter Sutcliffe, who was friends with the woman before he died in 2020.
Serial killer Levi Bellfield (pictured) was introduced to his fiancée by the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe. They were on the same wing in HMP Frankland
Bellfield and Sutcliffe were on the same wing in HMP Frankland. Bellfield asked to be put in touch with her after seeing her picture in Sutcliffe’s cell, the Sun reported.
They spoke on the phone, before she then began visiting Bellfield at the County Durham prison.
‘What people don’t realise is that the woman was friends with Sutcliffe for years before he died, although there was no romance between them,’ a source told the Sun.
They said that Bellfield asked for Sutcliffe’s consent to write to her, around a year before he died.
His fiancée has now said that she is ‘not ashamed’ of their relationship, and believes that Bellfield has ‘changed’ and is ‘not a monster’.
She described herself to the Mirror as ‘extremely non-judgemental’, adding that her and her fiancé have had ‘kisses and cuddles’ in the County Durham prison.
Bellfield asked to be put in touch with his now fiancée after seeing her picture in Sutcliffe’s cell before he died in 2020. Pictured, Sutcliffe aged 74
Earlier today, Dominic Raab said that Bellfield’s request to get married in prison is ‘inconceivable’ and a wedding is unlikely to happen because of the risk he would pose to his fiancee.
And prime minster Boris Johnson has also condemned the nuptials, along with prisons minister Victoria Atkins.
‘The PM is sickened and appalled by this, and his thoughts are with the families of his victims,’ his spokesperson said.
Ms Atkins called Bellfield a ‘monster’ and said that she is looking into the marriage application ‘very carefully’.
Bellfield, who is serving two whole life sentences for the murders of Marsha McDonnell, Amelie Delagrange and Milly Dowler, has asked for permission to marry a woman while in custody.
The killer got down on one knee and proposed to the woman in front of staff at HMP Frankland in County Durham, according to a report from The Sun.
Mr Raab, who is justice secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, said the 53-year-old is a ‘dangerous serial killer’ and suggested any nuptials in prison are unlikely to happen.
When asked what powers he has to stop the wedding, Mr Raab, who is also deputy prime minister, criticised the Human Rights Act.
He said: ‘The Human Rights Act puts all sorts of obstacles in our way in that regard, which is I think one more reason why we are introducing a Bill of Rights to add a bit more common sense.
‘What I can tell you is it is inconceivable that the prison or the Ministry of Justice would authorise that marriage unless the very significant concerns about the safeguarding were addressed; we’ve asked for a risk assessment in relation to that.
‘Clearly, we’re dealing with a dangerous serial killer.’
Mr Raab said it is ‘very difficult to see’ how the safeguarding concerns could be overcome.
The Government outlined its plans to replace the Human Rights Act with a new Bill of Rights in Tuesday’s Queen’s speech.
Former bouncer and wheel-clamper Bellfield’s bid to wed is ‘exactly the kind of case’ which shows the new legislation is needed, Mr Raab said.
He added: ‘We need written down in UK law a clear set of rights. They shouldn’t be trumped by elastic interpretations of human rights.’
Former justice secretary Robert Buckland said people will be ‘rightly shocked’ to hear he has become engaged, with director of the Centre for Crime Prevention, David Spencer, calling the marriage an ‘insult’ to his victim’s families.
He is engaged to a female visitor and got down on one knee to propose in front of prison staff at HMP Frankland (pictured)
A Ministry of Justice spokesman confirmed Bellfield is engaged and said: ‘An application (to get married) has been received and is being considered in the usual way.’
The bid is not thought to be at an advanced stage, with the killer needing the prison governor’s permission to marry at the category A men’s prison, it is understood.
Bellfield was given a whole life term for murdering Ms McDonnell, 19, in 2003, and murdering Ms Delagrange, 22, and trying to murder Kate Sheedy, 18, in 2004.
He was already serving his sentence when he went on trial for killing schoolgirl Milly, who was snatched from the street walking home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002.
He was found guilty of abducting and killing the 13-year-old following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2011.
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