'People see him as a monster but I love him': New girlfriend of evil serial killer 'Hannibal the Cannibal' reveals how she fell for Britain's most dangerous inmate who's been caged for 51 years

Daily Mail​

27-04-2025

The new girlfriend of 'Hannibal the Cannibal' serial killer Robert Maudsley, has revealed how she fell for one of Britain's most dangerous prisoners.
Mother-of-one, Loveinia MacKenney, has been in correspondence with Maudsley, 71, for the last five years, as the inmate caged behind a glass cage for several decades.
The inmate, who is Britain's longest serving prisoner, was once regarded as Wakefield's most dangerous, and had been kept in a glass cell since 1983 after he went on a killing spree behind bars.
From his perspex box in HMP Wakefield, the prisoner has expressed his love for the enamoured 69-year-old, who he described as 'beautiful' and 'thoughtful', in several heartfelt letters.
Despite having never met the serial killer in person, Ms MacKenney told The Mirror: 'People see him as a monster, they call him Hannibal the Cannibal. I know that he is far from that.'
Divulging how she knows 'caring' nature, she explained it is illustrated through his 'loving' letters and the ways in which he has written to here over the years.
He sent one Christmas card with the words 'Someone Special' inscribed on the front, whilst writing inside: ' As my sweet girlfriend, you have been there for me.'
Elaborating how he hoped to see his nearest and dearest during the festive holidays, he added:'I truly hope you can find someone to love you, in a physical sense, as I long to do for you,' whilst thanking her for giving him so many 'beautiful' dreams.
Ms MacKenney, who is a carer for her disabled 46-year-old son, Thomas, revealed to the publication she felt tied to the serial killer after watching a documentary about him titled: 'A Killer in the family'.
The show told of Maudsley's traumatic childhood, and the abuse he suffered whilst in care after being separated from his family in Liverpool.
His girlfriend revealed she could have ended up in a similar position to the 71-year-old who she refers to as 'Bob', due to her lived own experiences.
She described his life in jail as 'torture', due to the dangerous prisoners also living behind bars alongside him.
She said: 'I feel his pain, I cannot put it into words. He has been victimised yet he has never lost his moral compass.'
Adding how he is steadfast in his beliefs, she added: 'It is love and that is what he needs desperately, and it is unconditional love that we share.'
It comes after, Mausdley, who has spent an incredible 46 years in solitary confinement, was refusing to eat until his prized belongings – including books, a music system, and his beloved gaming console – were returned to him.
An 'operational exercise' carried out at Wakefield on February 26, saw inmates removed from their cells for thorough searches, and as such several possessions were stripped from Maudsley,
This included his PlayStation, books and music system, which he claims are essential for his mental well-being.
After their removal he went on hunger strike, but he has since been moved 125 miles down south to 'Monster Mansion', also known as HMP Whitemoor in March, Cambridgeshire.
The quardruple killer has been placed on an F wing, specifically built for prisoners with personality disorders, in what his friend describes as a 'disaster waiting to happen'.
Now friends of the serial killer claim he is being 'persecuted' without reason, as they believe he has been 'targeted', having had his TV as well as his radio stripped away.
Ms MacKenney previously revealed Maudsley had been placed on a wing with 70 other prisoners, dubbing it a 'disaster waiting to happen'.
'It is a disaster waiting to happen. He does not want to be alongside other men because of the abuse he suffered as a child,' she told The Mirror.
'You can tell from his letter to me what a terrible state he is in, his handwriting is shaky.
'He no longer has his TV, he has no radio. He was a model prisoner on his own, but I think they have targeted him.'
It is understood there is no evidence to suggest Maudsley is without TV or radio. It is also understood the MoJ do not comment on individual prisoners.
It comes after his brother, Paul, revealed the family were concerned about the 71-year-old during his hunger strike.
'He's been left with nothing,' Paul said. 'It's like he's back to how he was ten years ago when he had nothing to stimulate him.
'It's dangerous. He's just been sitting there, doing nothing, and he could go mad again. His TV, books, and games – they keep him sane. It's not fair to take them away without any explanation. We can't get through to anyone, and we're deeply concerned.'
His brother also revealed despite Maudsley's violent past, his sibling appears to have little interest in being moved from his solitary confinement.
'Bob wouldn't want to leave. He prefers being on his own. He just likes the solitude. He's used to it now,' he said.
Maudsley's lengthy confinement and notorious status have made him one of Britain's most infamous criminals.
His 18ft by 15ft glass cell was his only world, where he was previously kept isolated for 23 hours a day.
The infamous killer was originally incarcerated in 1974 for the murder of child abuser John Farrell, 30, but during his time in prison, he went on to kill three other men he believed were paedophiles and rapists, leading to his current solitary confinement.
His chilling nickname, 'Hannibal the Cannibal,' stemmed from false reports claiming he ate one of his victims' brains, a story that has remained part of his twisted legend.
In truth, Maudsley has never eaten human flesh, but the nickname stuck, cementing his place in British criminal history.
A once-promising youth from Toxteth, Liverpool, Maudsley's life descended into violence after years of physical and sexual abuse in care homes and at home.
After committing his first murder at the age of 21, Maudsley was sent to Broadmoor Hospital for the criminally insane.
It was there, in 1977, that he began his killing spree, murdering fellow inmates he believed to be paedophiles.
Maudsley's actions and his continued confinement have drawn both condemnation and sympathy over the years.
While his brutal murders were undeniably horrific, some have questioned whether his current treatment is humane.
Neil Samworth, a veteran prison officer, told MailOnline: 'I think it's wrong the way he's been treated. He's in total isolation, and it's not fair. He represents no real danger now – he's an old man. He should be allowed to live out his days in a more humane manner.'
However, Maudsley remains unrepentant, his brother Kevin revealing Robert has always viewed his victims as deserving of their fates.
'He won't apologise for what he did. He believes they were all paedophiles, so in his mind, he was justified,' Kevin explained.