Sunday Mirror

Taunts Dowlers

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He said: “From day one I was subjected to some horrendous prejudicia­l media coverage.

“Prior to my trial for the murder of Amanda Dowler a Google of my name revealed 70,000 hits in seconds.

“Most alarming was my police interviews were available on YouTube, titled ‘Scum’.”

Bellfield, who has converted to Islam and now calls himself Yusuf Rahim, is held at HMP Frankland in Durham.

Notorious inmates detained at the jail include Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, 71, and Soham killer Ian Huntley, 43.

Bellfield even claimed life in prison has damaged his mental health. He said: “Upon the conclusion of my five-month trial in 2008 I was mentally and emotionall­y drained. “I was then informed via the media I was being pursued for the murder of Amanda Dowler. “This proved to be the final blow and I was at an all-time low. “Prison has taken away my dignity and my sense of right and wrong. I am surrounded by degrading gossip and backbiting on a daily basis. I am a parole magnet for offenders who are prepared to engage with police in giving false cell confession­s evidence in the hope their parole status is enhanced. This cannot be right.”

In January 2016 Surrey Police announced Bellfield had finally confessed to Milly’s murder.

It was claimed he abducted her, subjected her to rape and torture then strangled her before dumping her in woods.

But just weeks later the killer filed a complaint against the force, claiming he never admitted the crime.

Now he has dismissed claims that he forced the Dowler family to give evidence during the trial, claiming they were called by the prosecutio­n not the defence.

TORMENT

He said: “Accusation­s have been made claiming I am responsibl­e for forcing Mr and Mrs Dowler to give evidence on the stand at my trial.

“At no time did I even suggest either of them should take the stand. I felt there was nothing either of them could contribute given what they had already been through.

“The undisputed fact is that the prosecutio­n called them, not my defence team. It was me who put a stop to the prosecutio­n’s torment and told my QC to ensure that she (Milly’s mum) didn’t give evidence. Basically he said that she’s very upset out there and I said you have got to stop now.

“Mrs Dowler giving evidence broke my heart – it’s nothing to do with me but I didn’t like listening to that.”

Bellfield still collates documents in the hope he may be able to appeal his conviction­s.

Bellfield’s comments come a week after it emerged he had been named by Michael Stone, 57, as being responsibl­e for the murders of Megan Russell, 45, and six-year-old daughter Lin in Chillenden, Kent, in 1996.

Stone is serving life for the killings but insists police got the wrong man.

I didn’t kill Milly... cops used media against me and then my ex changed her evidence LEVI BELLFIELD KILLER’S CRUEL CLAIM BEHIND BARS

 ??  ?? OUR AGONY Rob, Gemma and Sally Dowler after Bellfield’s 2011 conviction
OUR AGONY Rob, Gemma and Sally Dowler after Bellfield’s 2011 conviction
 ??  ?? OUTBURST Levi Bellfield
OUTBURST Levi Bellfield

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