Grisly plots to KILL Rose West behind bars revealed – from sock stuffed with pool balls to threats from fellow killer
is considered among
the most sadistic murderers in British history.
Rose tortured and murdered 10 young women,
, at their
in
Gloucester
.
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6
The fiend, now 71, languishes in a room for the disabled on her prison wing=
6
West has been at New Hall in West Yorkshire for six years
Credit: Alamy
6
Fred and Rose West are known as two of Britain's most evil killers
Credit: Rex Features
In 1995,
was
jailed for life for her callous crimes
after
police
uncovered multiple mutilated female bodies buried in their garden, under their patio and in a sex-dungeon cellar.
Fred
never faced justice for his crimes, killing himself in HMP Birmingham before the couple's trial.
However, Rose was among the few evil criminals to be sentenced to a whole life term - meaning she will never be released from prison.
And the vile killer's story did not end when she went to jail with Rose, now 71, subjected to numerous threats behind bars over the years.
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She previously served her sentence at HMP Bronzefield, Middlesex, but was moved to Low Newton in 2008 after a plot to batter her with pool balls in a sock.
She then spent 11 years at
Durham's
Low Newton
where she was allegedly targeted in other attacks.
Locked up with other lifers, in HMP Durham, her former legal representative
Leo
Goatley says she had been
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Most read in The Sun
He revealed to The Sun: "Rose was on a female wing with lots of other women serving long sentences, women who just wanted to get on and have some peace and quiet, even though they'd been convicted of some serious offences.
"About two years after her conviction, in the late nineties, they had women serving shorter sentences coming into the wing.
"Someone tried to set light to her cell and that was a total disruption for her."
Netflix documentary delves into the crimes of Fred and Rose West with new testimony and footage
And it is also believed she was moved on after threats from a fellow serial killer.
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Joanna Dennehy - who was convicted of
murdering three men within 10 days in Peterborough
- allegedly threatened to kill West during her time at HMP Durham.
However, a former inmate who claimed she had been in prison with West dismissed the security concerns and said no one could have gotten near her.
West, who was moved once again in 2019, is now being held in a special unit at
women-only HMP New Hall near Wakefield in
West Yorkshire.
She has been at New Hall for six years and calls
herself Jennifer Jones after changing her name by deed poll in 2020
- but everyone knows her true identity.
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West is one of 36 women serving life sentences at the jail, and one of around a dozen over the age of 60.
She is allowed a comfortable life behind bars despite her ongoing refusal to help investigators find the remains of 20 other rumoured victims of her and her husband.
6
British serial killer Rose West who committed the murders alongside her husband
Credit: Getty
6
Despite changing her name, everyone knows Rose's real identity at the women-only HMP New Hall near Wakefield in West Yorkshire
Credit: Alamy
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6
The chilling 'sex dungeon' cellar where the Wests abused some of their victims
Credit: SWNS
The harrowing crimes of the couple, who were branded 'the epitome of evil' in court, came to light in 1992 after their daughter Louise, 13, accused Fred of rape and
The case collapsed when eldest daughter Anne Marie, who was abused by them from the age of eight, refused to testify but remarks by the West children raised serious concern with police.
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They launched a major investigation after hearing the youngsters were regularly threatened to be buried 'under the patio like their sister Heather', who vanished five years prior.
Collectively the Wests killed at least 12 women and girls - ranging from youngest victim, Rose's stepdaughter Charmaine, eight, to the eldest Fred's ex-wife Catherine 'Reno' Costello, 27.
Eight of the murdered young women were teenagers, some of whom lived with the couple.
Others were employed as nannies and some schoolgirls were abducted from the street.
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LIVES LOST: The victims of Fred and Rose West
By Raphael Adelugba, Tanyel Mustafa
and
Caroline Peacock
Anna McFall
The nanny of Fred and Rena West's children, McFall was believed to have been murdered in 1967.
She was pregnant when she died, with West believed to have been the father.
Her body was found in June 1994 in a shallow grave.
Fred West denied murdering McFall but he is said to have confided to a visitor after his arrest that he stabbed her following an argument.
This happened before Rosemary West met him.
Charmaine West
With Fred in prison for the theft of car tyres and a vehicle tax disc, Rosemary was left to look after Fred and Rena's daughters Charmaine and Anne Marie.
A neighbour Tracey is said to have found Charmaine tied to a wooden chair with her hands behind a back with Rosemary standing with a large wooden spoon.
Rosemary claimed she'd been taken by her mother, but her skeleton was found at the Midland Road property, hidden and missing bones.
Rena West
Rena is believed to have been murdered by strangulation.
Rosemary was not charged for this murder.
Lynda Gough
Lynda Gough was the first sexually motivated killing conducted by the Wests.
She moved into Cromwell Street in April 1973, having had affairs with several lodgers.
The Wests later claimed she'd been asked to leave after hitting one of their children.
Strangulation and suffocation were the likely causes of death.
Carol Ann Cooper
Cooper was murdered in November 1973, aged just 15.
On the night of November 9, she was allowed to spend the night at her grandmother's house before a doctor's appointment the next morning.
She attended the appointment and then met her boyfriend, before somehow ending up on Cromwell Street.
Her body was found more than twenty years later.
Lucy Partington
A 21-year-old medieval English student at Exeter University, she returned home for Christmas in December 1973.
She left a friend's house in a rush to get the last bus from Cheltenham to Gretton on 27 December, with it believed she was abducted from this bus stop.
She was found more twenty years later, her dismembered body in the cellar of Cromwell Street.
Therese Siegenthaler
A 21-year-old Swiss sociology student at Woolwich Polytechnic.
She had planned to hitchhike to Ireland in Easter 1974. Her family reported her missing having not heard from her for some time.
Prosecution believe she was abducted before being killed, with Fred West later building a fake chimney over her grave.
Shirley Hubbard
Just 15 at the time of her death, Hubbard is believed to have been abducted by the Wests.
Her body was found following an excavation in the concrete and plastic membrane of the cellar floor.
Juanita Mott
In the summer of 1974, Mott moved into 25 Cromwell Street but later went missing when she was living in Newent.
Her body was found in March 1994, 19 years later, with West having concreted over the floor of the cellar.
Shirley Robinson
The first victim buried outside the house, Robinson had an affair with Fred West, and by autumn 1977, she was pregnant with West's child.
It was initially claimed she had moved to Scotland but her body was later found.
When questioned, Rosemary West, herself pregnant with her daughter Tara at the time of the murder, claimed she did not remember her, which was described as 'ludicrous' by the prosecution.
Alison Chambers
The last murder with a sexual motive established. She disappeared just before her 17
th
birthday, having been seen at 25 Cromwell Street throughout the summer.
Her body was buried underneath the patio.
Heather West
The first child born to Fred and Rosemary West, there is no evidence she was aware of the killings.
Sexually abused by her parents and having told friends, she suddenly went missing in 1987, with Rosemary claiming she had gone to Wales to be with a lesbian partner.
The couple would joke to their other children that they would 'end up under the patio like Heather' if they misbehaved.
This, and their changing stories, lead to the search warrants for the property, which lead to their arrests.
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Welcome to what locals have dubbed 'Crackadilly Gardens' - once a calm haven adorned with cherry trees and colourful flower beds in the heart of Manchester. 20 The area has become overrun with people high on the zombie drug spice Credit: STEVE ALLEN 20 Homeless people and drug addicts can be seen sleeping in doorways Credit: STEVE ALLEN 20 The area serves as an interchange in the city for buses and trams Credit: STEVE ALLEN 20 Locals say they fear 'masked teenagers on bikes looking to steal' Credit: STEVE ALLEN 20 Eunice Manu says the gardens now feel scary and there's often trouble Credit: STEVE ALLEN But over time various redesigns of Piccadilly Gardens meant much of the green space was replaced with concrete, and it now doubles as bus and tram interchange. At one point the area became such an eyesore that one of its architectural features became known as Manchester's 'Berlin Wall'. And it's since become overrun by beggars, drug dealers and 'zombie' addicts. 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Manchester Police Raids smash down doors in early morning raids on postal drug dealers He staggered around, seemingly under the influence of drink, drugs or both, before sitting down on the pavement and swearing at passers-by, including children. In a separate incident, which involved armed police, a 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary. Despite the increased police presence and a zero-tolerance approach from officers, locals say the area still feels unsafe. Eunice Manu, 40, who works nearby for a women's charity, admits Piccadilly Gardens can be a 'scary' place. "I'm always very careful when I'm walking along because there's always stuff going on,' she said. It's not a very friendly place and although they've tried to improve things, it doesn't feel safe because of what's going on – it's really scary Eunice Manu 'I watch all the time to see what's going on around me. 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'There's drugs all around the place and fights all the time. 'It's just an unpleasant place to be and I try to avoid the whole area if I can - after midday it gets a bit 'iffy'." Nick, 74, who only wanted to give his first name, said his brother had visited the city centre with him and was 'shocked' by what he saw. 'We came in one night to watch a gig and my brother was a bit taken aback,' he said. 'It was a bit of a shock for him to see all these drugged-up people hanging around. 'I live here so I'm used to it, but he lives in East Anglia so doesn't often encounter such scenes.' You can get anything you want there: crack, smack (heroin), spice, weed, everything Dave, 52 He added: 'Piccadilly Gardens used to be a nice place in the 70s, with flower beds and that sort of thing, but it's just been ruined over the years.' Melis Ichan, 28, a Turkish student in London who regularly visits friends in Manchester, said she's noticed the area's 'drug issues' and the 'intimidating' atmosphere. 'It can feel a little threatening and uncomfortable, especially if you're a woman on your own," she admitted. 'I think the main issue is masked teenagers on bikes looking to steal phones and other things. So I'm always very careful with my belongings.' She added that she 'loves' Manchester and hoped to live and work there, rather than London. 'Den of inequity' 20 Dave, who is homeless, says it's not safe in the gardens any more Credit: STEVE ALLEN 20 This feature in Picadilly Garden has been dubbed Manchester's Berlin Wall Credit: STEVE ALLEN 20 The Sun saw a man being arrested by police when we visited this week Credit: STEVE ALLEN 20 Some residents say they're too afraid to go near the gardens at night Credit: STEVE ALLEN Homeless pals Dave, 52, and Carl, 54, described Piccadilly Gardens as a 'den of inequity'. Dave said: 'You can get anything you want there: crack, smack (heroin), spice, weed, everything. 'That's why there's a lot of trouble and stabbings – arguments over drugs.' Carl added: 'I've been robbed twice there. That's why we both stay away – it's just not safe. 'If anything it's got worse and the police don't want to interfere too much because they're worried it will cause more trouble. 'It was bad when all the Oasis fans came to Manchester to watch them perform. 'They were coming to Piccadilly Gardens and putting their bags down and getting them robbed. 'A lot of them didn't even realise what was going until it was too late.' Violent crime 20 A man was stabbed in Piccadilly Gardens last month, leading cops to cordon off part of the area Credit: MEN Media 20 Police have been maintaining a presence in the area to try to improve the situation Credit: STEVE ALLEN Recent serious incidents include a 23-year-old man who was stabbed last month during an alleged fight, with a 19-year-old later charged. Also last month, two men - one in his 20s and another in his 30s - were victims of a double stabbing. An air ambulance had to land in Piccadilly Gardens in May when another stabbing victim, 31, was rushed to hospital. And a man died in December after he was found collapsed in a doorway two days before Christmas. Simon Quest, 37, was jailed for four years and six months in December for stealing a mobile phone after cycling up behind his behind his victim in Piccadilly Gardens and throwing coffee over him. Police said the 'deplorable' attack, in June 2024, resulted in the man falling to the ground 'completely disorientated and unable to defend himself'. In another robbery in January last year, a 76-year-old was assaulted and robbed of a quantity of cash after he came to the city centre to withdraw his pension and disability benefits. Class A crackdown 20 GMP caught a drug gang that was dealing Class A drugs in Piccadilly Gardens Credit: GMP 20 Cops hoped to make a dent in the dealing taking place in the area Credit: GMP In November 2023, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) supported by specialist police from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, launched a major operation in Piccadilly Gardens targeting class A drug dealing. Drugs were supplied to customers using various means: through flare messages, teenage couriers and directly to those in the area needing a fix. In April, Manchester Crown Court heard how undercover cops had exposed one criminal gang headed by Martin Joyce, which supplied crack cocaine and heroin. The investigation focused on an alleyway, known as Back Piccadilly, which was notorious for drug deals due to its private and secluded nature. In total the operation led to 23 criminals being brought before the court and given sentences ranging from two to five years. GMP acknowledge that Piccadilly Gardens presents a 'unique challenge' for officers and they have to worked with local partners and charities to try to tackle problems. I've been robbed twice there. That's why we both stay away – it's just not safe Carl From March to May this year, 93 people were arrested for a variety of offences while 384 people were stop and searched. Cops' Operation Vulcan led to a targeted 18-month long operation to root out drug dealers and tackle crime in the area, and a dedicated police team now patrol the area day and night. Police tactics rely on a mix of regular visible patrols, community meetings and briefings, and 'targeted activity' - such as weapon or drug sweeps. And they work with the council to secure criminal behaviour orders against repeat offenders to effectively ban them from returning to Piccadilly Gardens or the wider city area. But Superintendent Nicola Williams, of GMP, says she doesn't underestimate the challenge faced by the force. 'I am realistic,' she told the Manchester Evening News in May. 'I have worked in neighbourhood policing all my career. Piccadilly Gardens is a particularly challenging space because of the footfall that passes through it every day. It's 24/7. And I recognise we can't be here 24/7 too. 'We are adopting a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour here, so if someone is here behaving in that manner, we will deal with it. "If they're begging, they will get arrested. If they're smoking a joint, they will get arrested. If we see someone dealing, they will get arrested. 20 The council and police have promised to take more action in the area Credit: STEVE ALLEN 20 The Sun saw armed police and normal police officers when we visited the city centre Credit: STEVE ALLEN 'I am committed to that because those are the things that really impact people coming to Piccadilly Gardens about their daily business. "We don't want to smell cannabis, see someone who has perhaps been sleeping here all night and potentially under the influence, it doesn't help people feel safe.' Inspector Kam Hare, of GMP's City Centre Piccadilly Gardens neighbourhood policing team, told The Sun: 'We have a team dedicated to tackling issues in Piccadilly Gardens as we are acutely aware of the complex challenges that this area does present. 'Through a strategy of working with partners including Manchester City Council, we are working together to tackle these problems with long-term solutions. "The foundations of the problem-solving approach we have seen in Piccadilly Gardens had seen real progress being made in terms of safeguarding, enforcement, and our understanding of the issues and concerns communities are facing. 'Over the past six months alone we have seen 249 arrests resulting in 183 charges, 27 knives seized and large amounts of Class A and Class B drugs seized. We will continue to take action in this area ensuring criminals know they cannot operate here. 'We are determined to ensure the perception of Piccadilly Gardens, and the public's feeling of safety in the area, continues to improve. "We cannot do this alone however and will work with our partners to achieve this alongside the backing of additional force resources whenever and wherever there is intelligence or demand to suggest we need extra officers in the area. 'We also rely on intelligence from members of our community – from the people that work in the area to those that live in the buildings surround the gardens. Over the past six months alone we have seen 249 arrests resulting in 183 charges, 27 knives seized and large amounts of Class A and Class B drugs seized Inspector Kam Hare "Please continue to report incidents to ourselves as it helps us to build a targeted plan of activity that our neighbourhood officers can use.' A City Council spokesperson said: 'We know that Piccadilly Gardens sometimes attracts negative headlines. We're bringing forward plans to improve its appearance and boost public confidence in its safety. "There have been intensive police crackdowns with operations such as Operation Vulcan and ongoing days of action resulting in many arrests. "We are working closely with Greater Manchester Police to build on the successes of this approach and strengthen its long term impact in tackling and preventing crime and anti-social behaviour.' The spokesperson added that plans would be announced next month for 'immediate and long term measures' to ensure it is a welcoming space for residents and visitors alike.
