Anger as serial killer plans to marry in jail

Serial killer Levi Bellfield has become engaged to a female visitor he plans to marry in jail. The government said it has launched a review into whether it can stop the ceremony from going ahead.

Bellfield is one of a handful of prisoners serving a whole-life term after he was convicted of the murders of Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and French student Amelie Delagrange.

Downing Street said the prime minister was “appalled” by the news of the intended marriage, while prisons minister Victoria Atkins described Bellfield as “an evil monster who has left a trail of despair and grief in his wake”.

She said: “My heart goes out to the families because, yet again, this appalling human being is on the front pages and they’re having to think about him.”

But she did not say whether she could actually stop the wedding going ahead.

She added: “I’m appalled that someone like this can make an application to get married – we’re looking into it very carefully.”

A spokesman for Boris Johnson said that while the Government’s intended bill of rights was designed to prevent abuses of the Human Rights Act, he could not be “definite” on whether it will address the issues in the Bellfield case.

He added: “Everyone, including the prime minister, is disgusted by the reports.”

The 53-year-old killer will need the permission of the governor at HMP Frankland to marry at the category A prison.

Rules state the prison governor can raise an objection to the facility being named on the notice of marriage as the place where the service is carried out.

The governor must discuss with the National Offender Management Service if there are concerns that any security risks cannot reasonably be overcome, or if there are concerns that either party is getting married under duress.

While prison marriages are rare, they are not unheard of.

In 2017, Charles Bronson – one of the UK’s longest serving and most notorious prisoners – married former soap opera actress Paula Williamson, while WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange tied the knot with Stella Moris two months ago at Belmarsh high security jail while he awaits extradition to the US over espionage charges.

It was reported that Bellfield got down on one knee to propose in front of prison staff at the facility in County Durham.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “An application has been received and is being considered in the usual way.”

Bellfield was given a whole life term for murdering Ms McDonnell, 19, in 2003, and murdering Ms Delagrange, 22, and attempting to murder Kate Sheedy, 18, in 2004.

He was already serving this sentence when he went on trial for killing schoolgirl Milly, who was snatched from the street walking from school to her home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002.

Bellfield was found guilty of abducting and killing the 13-year-old following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2011.

Levi Bellfield.