The harrowing case of Mary Bell, an 11-year-old girl convicted of manslaughter for the deaths of two toddlers, remains one of Britain's most disturbing criminal stories. Sentenced to life detention in 1968, her journey through the justice system, a brief escape, and eventual release under a new identity continues to provoke debate.
A Childhood of Abuse and Early Signs of Violence
Mary Flora Bell's path to infamy began in a childhood marked by severe neglect and alleged abuse. Born in Newcastle, she was an unwanted child; her mother, a sex worker, reportedly rejected her at birth. This profoundly troubled upbringing manifested in early, violent behaviour. Mary was a chronic bed-wetter and was known to strangle classmates, once blocking a girl's throat with sand.
Psychiatrists would later diagnose her with a psychopathic disorder. Her home life was chaotic and cruel; it was alleged her mother, Betty, who worked as a dominatrix, bound and sexually abused her, plied her with sleeping pills, and even dropped her from a first-floor window.
The Chilling Crimes and Bungled Investigation
In 1968, the community of Scotswood in Newcastle was rocked by the deaths of two young boys. Four-year-old Martin Brown was found dead in a derelict house on May 25th. Just two months later, on July 31st, three-year-old Brian Howe was discovered on waste ground near his home, which was on the same road as Mary's.
The killings bore horrifying hallmarks. Mary had told her victims they had sore throats and offered massages before strangling them. After Brian Howe's murder, a feeble attempt had been made to carve the letter 'M' on his stomach. In a bizarre twist, Mary and a 13-year-old neighbour, Norma Bell (no relation), broke into a nursery after Martin's death, leaving incoherent notes on a blackboard that seemed to confess to the crime.
Initially, the girls evaded suspicion. However, Detective Chief Inspector James Dobson became convinced of Mary's guilt when she mentioned broken scissors at the scene—a detail only police knew. A coroner also concluded Brian's killer was likely a child.
Life Sentence, Escape, and a Controversial New Life
At trial at the Newcastle upon Tyne Assizes, Mary Bell was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Norma Bell was acquitted on all charges. Sentencing Mary to life detention, Mr Justice Cusack declared her "dangerous" and warned of a "very grave risk to other children."
Her time in custody was turbulent. In 1977, she briefly escaped from an open prison with another inmate but was recaptured days later. Ultimately, Mary Bell was released in May 1980 at the age of 23. To facilitate her reintegration, she was granted a new identity and lifelong anonymity, which was later extended to protect her daughter.
This anonymity sparked controversy, especially when she was paid an estimated £50,000 for her biography, "Cries Unheard," in 1998. The sister of victim Martin Brown argued this act forfeited her right to secrecy. Despite public outcry, authorities maintained she was no longer a danger, with a Staffordshire police inspector stating in 2003 that prison authorities found her "not the slightest bit dangerous."
