British serial killers

Lucy Letby will spend the rest of her life in prison after being found guilty of murdering seven babiesand attempting to kill six more. The most prolific british serial killers killer in British history — by a considerable margin — is Harold Shipman.

The UK has a rich and varied history, but where there are good people there are inevitably also bad people living alongside them. The focus of this piece will be on the worst of society: the most notorious serial killers from the UK. The UK has a relatively large fraternity of serial killers, although almost all of these outlined below are either behind bars or dead, ensuring that the UK remains a safe place to live, work, and study. True crime investigation and TV shows have gained rapid popularity in the UK over the past five years, with many people having a morbid fascination with the crimes of others. Many criminology and forensics students use their knowledge of true crime and of serial killers to inspire their studies. Some of the most frequently asked questions about serial killers include where are serial killers from? Why do they do what they do?

British serial killers

The United Kingdom has a vast history full of good, bad, and ugly characters. Alongside the fascinating elements of our past, there are parts of our rich history which are stained by dark and twisted characters — serial killers. Take a look at some of the most infamous UK serial killers, and which ones may have hit a little too close to home. The definition of a serial killer can differ slightly from country to country, but this is the generally accepted definition of what a serial killer is. Compared to other countries, the UK has not had an abundance of serial killers. However, the killers that have targeted the UK public have been particularly gruesome. The worst UK serial killer is widely agreed to be Harold Shipman. He was a GP who killed a total of people from — — causing a huge scandal amongst the medical community and the general public. He was based in Manchester, and would administer lethal doses of diamorphine to his victims. The majority of his victims were older, widowed women. He was sentenced to 20 consecutive life sentences in prison, and died in He claimed that God had sent him on a mission to kill prostitutes. He was found to have killed 22 women, and had attempted to murder 7 others. One of the few females on the serial killer list, Mary Ann Cotton killed 21 people between and She was executed for poisoning and killing her stepson, but it came to light that she had actually murdered many more people — including 11 out of 13 of her children.

Minutes later he rang police to confess he murdered her - and when asked why, he coldly replied: "Because I felt like it.

She joins a grim list of mass murderers, from a Victorian mass poisoner to the Yorkshire Ripper. Here we take a look at some of the most shocking killers. She was convicted of murdering three babies and one year-old, attempting to murder three other children, and causing grievous bodily harm to a further six at Grantham and Kesteven hospital in Lincolnshire between February and April Allitt administered large doses of insulin to her victims. In May , she received 13 life sentences at Nottingham crown court. Like Letby, Shipman was a medical professional.

Harold Frederick Shipman 14 January — 13 January , known to acquaintances as Fred Shipman , was an English general practitioner and serial killer. He is considered to be one of the most prolific serial killers in modern history , with an estimated victims. On 31 January , Shipman was found guilty of murdering fifteen patients under his care. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order. The Shipman Inquiry , a two-year-long investigation of all deaths certified by Shipman, chaired by Dame Janet Smith , examined Shipman's crimes. It revealed Shipman targeted vulnerable elderly people who trusted him as he was their doctor, whom he killed either with a fatal dose of drugs or prescribing them an abnormal amount. As of 1 December , Shipman, also nicknamed "Dr. Death" and "The Angel of Death", is the only British doctor to have been convicted of murdering patients, although other doctors have been acquitted of similar crimes or convicted of lesser charges and some nurses have also been convicted of murdering patients in their care.

British serial killers

The United States reports three times more serial killers per capita than every other country in the world and has produced Unfortunately, the country has seen its fair share of tragedy over the years. Perhaps the least-known character on our list, Stephen Akinmurele murdered a minimum of five elderly people in the north-west of England between and Akinmurele strangled and killed by arson until he was caught and convicted. In August , he took his own life and left a note to his mother saying: "I couldn't take any more of feeling like how I do now, always wanting to kill.

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Palmer trained as a doctor, and earned the nickname Prince of Poisoners after several suspected poisoning cases in his youth, which culminated in his poisoning one of his friends over money troubles and, ultimately, his capture. Here we take a look at some of the most shocking killers. Fred and Rose West in , the year they were arrested for the murders of over 10 women. Retrieved 9 June Her pattern of killings unravelled and she was hanged in March What makes a serial killer? Retrieved 22 May While authorities could have brought many additional charges, they concluded that a fair hearing would be impossible in view of the enormous publicity surrounding the original trial. Retrieved 27 September Latest 59m ago What Michael Gove's new definition of extremism means for free speech. Shipman was particularly close to his mother, who died of lung cancer when he was aged seventeen. His widow was advised by police against burying her husband in case the grave was attacked.

Frederick Walter Stephen West 29 September — 1 January was an English serial killer , who committed at least twelve murders between and in Gloucestershire , the majority with his second wife, Rose West. All the victims were young women. At least eight of these murders involved the Wests' sexual gratification and included rape , bondage , torture , and mutilation ; the victims' dismembered bodies were typically buried in the cellar or garden of the West residence in Gloucester , which became known as the "House of Horrors".

Furthermore, the 15 life sentences already imposed rendered further litigation unnecessary. We offer the Criminal Psychology Diploma Level 4 course through our online campus. The partner of notorious serial killer and rapist Fred West was jailed for life in for 10 murders, including that of her stepdaughter Charmaine. Capital punishment was abolished just a few weeks before their trial, so the couple was sentenced to life imprisonment. Murder and Crime in London. He died aged 74 while serving a whole-life tariff for murdering 13 women across Yorkshire and north-west England between and The most recent serial killer who has been sentenced in the UK is Mark Martin. Retrieved 16 August For example, the person s organising the funeral must answer, "Do you know or suspect that the death of the person who has died was violent or unnatural? Alexander Harris. Retrieved 25 June Crime Library.