Convicted triple murderer Joanne Dennehy remains one of Britain's most dangerous female criminals, continuing to pose a significant threat even from within the confines of the prison system. Handed a whole-life order in 2014 for a brutal ten-day rampage in Peterborough, her notoriety is set to be revisited in a new Amazon Prime documentary, Confessionals of a Female Serial Killer, airing on December 7.
A Spree of Violence and Chilling Remorse
In 2013, Dennehy, originally from St Albans, Hertfordshire, embarked on a murder spree that shocked the nation. She stabbed three men to death: her love interest Lukasz Slaboszewski, 31; her housemate John Chapman, 56; and her landlord and lover Kevin Lee, 48. She dumped their bodies in a ditch, leading to the case being dubbed the 'Peterborough ditch murders'.
Before her capture, she attacked two more men at random, who both survived. Showing a complete lack of remorse, Dennehy chillingly described the killings to police as "moreish and fun". The sentencing judge deemed her so dangerous that she should never be released.
Life Behind Bars: Threats, Lovers and Escape Plots
Dennehy's incarceration at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey was marked by immediate volatility. Upon arrival, she reportedly threatened to kill fellow serial killer Rose West to establish herself as the prison's "top dog," leading to West's swift transfer.
She then began a lengthy relationship with inmate Hayley Palmer, a street robber. Their tempestuous bond included plans to marry and a joint suicide attempt over fears of being separated. Palmer, released in 2021, confirmed their split in 2022.
In a bizarre and gruesome twist, a 2016 High Court damages claim—which was unsuccessful—revealed Dennehy had plotted to escape by murdering a guard and using their severed fingers to bypass biometric door locks. She dismissed a found sketch of the prison layout as a mere 'doodle'. This led to over two years in solitary confinement.
Continued Turmoil and a Legacy of Evil
Dennehy's disruptive behaviour continued. In 2020, she was moved to the all-female maximum security prison HMP Low Newton near Durham following allegations of an affair with a male prison officer at Bronzefield. At Low Newton, she sparked a romance with fellow convicted killer Emma Aitken, who is serving life for a 2013 murder.
An insider revealed the pair would "make cheesecake and trifles while other people are locked away," adding that other inmates remain scared of Dennehy. Author Christopher Berry-Dee, who interviewed her for his book, called her "the most evil person I have ever met," describing a palpable, acrid sense of malice.
Criminologist Professor David Wilson notes Dennehy is a rare female spree killer, likely operating in a "folie à deux" with her accomplice Gary Stretch, where she was the dominant, terrifying partner. He believes her extreme violent tendencies make her behaviour virtually impossible to change, cementing her permanent status as a threat behind bars.
