Rose West, one of Britain's most notorious serial killers, reportedly enjoys a "pampered" life behind bars at HMP New Hall, including watching TV, eating chocolate and taking up a crochet hobby, despite claims she lashes out at prison staff.
The 72-year-old, serving a whole-life term for the murders of 10 women and girls, is said to be "on her last legs" after decades in prison. A source in the jail claimed West has been placed on a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) due to her worsening health.
Privileges reinstated after alleged assault
West reportedly had her privileges stripped away after she assaulted a 20-year-old inmate earlier this year. However, four weeks later, her luxuries were reinstated, including a specially-adapted cell so she does not mingle with other prisoners at the high-security jail.
Psychologists at the prison are understood to have advised that a TV ban, imposed following the attack, be lifted for West's "mental health", according to The Sun. She had also been stripped of money for extra food at the canteen.
Restricted prisoner with special wing housing
"In prison terms, she has a pretty pampered life, as she is in poor health and is housed on a special ground-floor wing of the jail," a source told The Sun earlier this year. "She is also a restricted prisoner, which means guards keep a close eye on her and escort her when she moves around the wing, and she cannot be chucked into segregation."
"It means she is now just going back to her hobbies, which are cooking and knitting - and watching TV alone in her cell," the source added.
Behaviour towards staff and other inmates
Other sources claim West will lash out at staff should she not get her way. "She can be quite abusive to officers if she doesn’t get what she wants and she’s very set in her ways," one source revealed. "If she asks for something and it doesn’t happen within five minutes, she’ll get the hump."
"No one wants to talk to her or be close to her. She sits in the social areas around everyone else just to annoy the other women, knowing they don’t want to be around her," the source added. "Often she’s just in her cell on her own and the other prisoners can hear her talking to the TV if they walk past. Her hair is grey now and she’s put on some weight but she still looks the same and she still wears her glasses. She never gets any visitors but still gets loads of post and cards from sick admirers on the outside, which has to go through security checks before it gets to her."
West's life behind bars has come into focus amid claims her condition has deteriorated in the high-security prison. A source told The Sun: "Rose is in a really bad way and can now barely move."
