Robert Maudsley, Britain's longest serving prisoner, is reportedly facing yet another transfer between prisons. The 72-year-old, nicknamed 'Hannibal the Cannibal' by fellow inmates, was moved from Wakefield prison to Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire last April. Now, according to his partner, he believes he is about to be moved again.
Partner Voices Concerns
Loveinia MacKenney, 71, Maudsley's partner, expressed her worries amid claims that the quadruple killer is being 'ghosted' by prison staff. She stated: 'He knows that he is going to be moved again. But he doesn't know where he is going. Prison staff are 'ghosting' him. It means that they could come to his cell in the middle of the night and move him again.' She added that it is unclear where he will end up, possibly even Scotland, as he is a Double Category A prisoner.
Decades in Solitary Confinement
Maudsley has spent 52 years behind bars, including more than 17,000 consecutive days in solitary confinement, setting a world record. He was removed from Wakefield jail, nicknamed 'Monster Mansion,' and transferred 125 miles away. Since then, friends say he has not had a single visitor, increasing his isolation. The distance from his native Merseyside has effectively denied him visits from loved ones.
Family Concerns
Loveinia, a mother of one from London, said: 'I am concerned about him. When he was moved to Whitemoor, they found an iron bar in his cell. I worry about what will happen to him if he is moved again.' In letters to Loveinia, Maudsley showed a tender side, writing: 'All the kindness, thoughtfulness and love you have shared with me through these last short years can get me through anything.' He added: 'My beautiful Loveinia, the more love we experience in our lives, the more the bad experiences tend to fade into the distance and we can live our lives to the full.'
A relative on Merseyside noted that his brothers used to visit him but are now in poor health, making travel to the new prison difficult. They also highlighted the complicated process of arranging visits, involving forms and police meetings.
Background of Violence
Maudsley was sentenced to life in 1974 for the manslaughter of John Farrell, a child abuser. He later killed three men while in prison. After his last two murders, he reportedly told a guard: 'There'll be two short on the roll call.' His nickname 'Hannibal the Cannibal' arose from a false rumour that he had eaten a victim's brains after a spoon was found in the skull. For decades, he was held at Wakefield with special measures, including a Perspex window for staff monitoring, drawing comparisons to the fictional Hannibal Lecter.
Prison Conditions and Ministry Response
Last year, prison chiefs informed Maudsley they were sending him to Whitemoor 'against his wishes,' citing population pressures and violent incidents in Wakefield's segregation unit. Maudsley went on hunger strike and complained that his treatment was 'far more restrictive, oppressive and punitive' than before. A Ministry of Justice source emphasised that Maudsley has access to a phone, half an hour of outdoor exercise daily, and a daily shower.
