Levi Bellfield, the convicted serial killer, sex offender and rapist, has become 'engaged to a woman while in prison and plans to marry behind bars. Bellfield has applied for permission to marry a woman while he is serving two whole life orders for murdering Marsha McDonnell, Amelie Delagrange and Milly Dowler.
Prisons minister Victoria Atkins said she has ordered an immediate review into the request, branding the proposed nuptials “absolutely appalling”. According the PA news agency, she claimed the news called into question the workings of the Human Rights Act, saying Bellfield currently has a right under Article 12 to have his application for a wedding considered.
Asked on Sky News about the request, Ms Atkins said: “Absolutely appalling. I’ve ordered an immediate review into this when it came to light last night. I just want to reassure people, I understand an application has been made that has not been decided yet and he most certainly has not yet married, but, if I may, he’s currently got the right under Article 12 of the Human Rights Act to get married … or they have the right to have the application to be considered by prison governors".
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Adding: “I very much welcome the debate we’re about to have about the Bill of Rights and looking at human rights for the United Kingdom for the 21st century. Believe me, I’ll be raising this.”
Bellfield, 53, is currently serving a whole life-term for three murders in South West London. My London has reported that he caused outrage when he got down on one knee and proposed in front of prison staff. Former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told the Sun: "Milly never got to see her wedding day. It cannot be right that he gets to have his.”
The Sun also reports that Bellfield, originally from Isleworth, has since consulted with a solicitor to help him with his plan to marry his fiancée where he is locked up in HMP Frankland in County Durham. Buckland added: said: “People will be rightly shocked to hear that a man capable of such depraved crimes and is rightly imprisoned is able to form a relationship of this kind."
Unsurprisingly, the popular ITV morning programme Good Morning Britain was covering this shocking story, though viewers haven't been left best pleased by any discussion of Bellfield. One disgruntled viewer said: "I can’t believe that monster #LeviBellfield is being allowed to become engaged and married. What’s wrong with the #MinistryOfJustice to allow this? She must be desperate, and people like him should have NO such privileges! What a deterrent Jail is … NOT! UNBELIEVABLE! #GMB"
Another angry viewer added: "Don't Give Bellfield Air Time...!Sick Basket...How??Why??"
The woman Bellfield is set to marry is understood to be 'blonde and in her 40s and started writing to the criminal after he wrote to her two years ago and she is now reportedly a regular visitor. She apparently travels to see him once or twice a week for two hours at a time. She has also bought him an engagement ring, but Bellfield 'cannot wear it until he is allowed to marry'.
Former Metropolitan Police detective chief inspector Colin Sutton, who brought Bellfield to justice, said: "We found that any relationship Levi Bellfield entered into started off fine and then quickly developed into one of coercive control and violence. “It is worrying that he still has the ability to enter into a relationship like this with a partner. But she will be in a safer position than partners he had on the outside because he is locked up.”
David Spencer, director of the Centre for Crime Prevention, said: “This marriage is an insult to the families of Bellfield’s many victims. Given the magnitude and nature of his brutal crimes, it will turn many taxpayers’ stomachs to think that their money is being used to fund such a grotesque union. If it is in any way possible, the Ministry of Justice should intervene to stop this ceremony from proceeding.”
