SNEERING MOORS BEAST

CHILD murderer Ian Brady wrote to his mother about playing hangman with Myra Hindley in court, it has been revealed.

The two accused killers showed their contempt for the justice system by amusing themselves with childish games and stifling giggles at “ridiculous” evidence.

And in a series of newly released letters to his mother, Margaret “Peggy” Stewart, Brady gave a chilling insight into his mind.

He displayed an offhand attitude to punishment, saying a life sentence was “of little consequence”.

And he showed a self- pitying streak by moaning the books Peggy had sent were “hopeless”, a radiator in his cell was not hot enough and even how he missed good telly.

The letters, which began “Dear Ma” but were often sprinkled with verbal abuse, were written in the mid-60s while Brady was on remand awaiting trial.

They were supposed to have been kept secret until 2051 but have been made public following a Freedom of Information request since his death at 79 in May.

In the letters Brady boasted about playing pen and paper games with Hindley when they were in court for a committal hearing in 1965.

Ludicrous

The games included noughts and crosses and hangman, in which players guess the letters of a word before the figure an opponent draws is executed on the gallows.

Brady, who along with Hindley murdered five youngsters aged from ten to 17, wrote: “The so- called witnesses were so ludicrous that we played norts and crosses and another game called hangman.

“We had to (unreadable) in the dock sometimes so we didn’t start laughing at some of the ridiculous evidence exhibited.”

He added: “Myra and I are still in excellent spirits and we’ve started to prepare seriously for the coming farce, though neither of us are losing any sleep.”

The letters were sent from HM Remand Centre in Warrington between December 1965 and March 1966, the month before the full trial started.

The National Archives and Ministry of Justice ruled they could be released under FoI laws.

They reveal Brady’s obsession with Hindley, who tried to claim she murdered the children only after falling under Brady’s spell.

He said of her: “I write to her every day, the same as her to me. Myra’s future is all I have to concern me now. My own future is sealed.

“The trial, to me, is my first and last opportunity to acquit Myra of any blame in this farce, and drag truth down to where he should be.

“I will get life imprisonment, that fact is beyond doubt. I’ve always known it, little consequence now.”

He added: “Myra’s mother called on a visit here on Saturday. She brought some books and of course the usual food which I accepted but didn’t really want. Myra is in good