Rose West

Rosemary Pauline West was the fifth child of electrician Bill and his wife Daisy Letts. Though not diagnosed at the time, it was later speculated that Bill was a schizophrenic. However, his wife was known to suffer from deep depression. Depression so bad that even while she was expecting Rose, she underwent electro compulsive therapy, a traumatic treament that some suspect caused Rose to suffer a prenatal injury.

The family lived in a little seaside town called Northam in Devon. It was a very picturesque town that was known for its community and family values. But this was not the reality or routine of the Letts family.

Bill was said to be a 'despot' in a 'very dysfunctional house'. The daughters weren't allowed to leave the premises, get dirty, or play in the garden and Bill apparently forced them to clean the carpet with their toothbrushes. His neighbours often saw a charming man, but behind closed doors he was very violent to his wife and children.

However, it's believed that he wasn't as mean to Rose because he knew there was something not quite right with her. Her school performance was poor, she was bullied because she was chubby and other children called her ‘Dozy Rosie'. The other reason could have been because he was sexually abusing her. Whatever was done to her was so damaging, that even as an adult, she couldn’t confront it.

One theory is that Rose learnt to use sex to placate the worst excesses of her father. Aged 13, the family moved to the village of Bishops Cleeve. in Gloucestershire. And it was there, just a few years later, that Rose met Fred West.

Rosemary West launched an appeal against her conviction in 1995.In 1996, the Lord Chief Justice rejected it.

That year, 25 Cromwell Street was demolished. A walkway replaced it. There is no memorial or marker to the horror that took place there.In 2000, Rose considered appealing her conviction. In 2001, she abandoned it saying she felt she would never be free, even if released. Bizarrely, in 2003, she came close to marrying a session bass player with the rock band Slade. Just days after the wedding plans were announced, however, adverse publicity meant it was all called off.

For relatives and friends of those who died and for the others that disappeared around the time and in the area of the Wests killings, the uncertainty over how their loved ones met their end is still painful:

“If I could have one wish it would be for her to just tell the truth about what she does know. Whether that be she has took part in murders or she knew these young girls were going to be disposed of. Whatever, she’s doing her life sentence so why not just come out and tell the truth? A confession would help a lot of people. People who don’t know.”

-Caroline Roberts, Wests’ former nanny

And there was, also, that near decade gap in the Wests killings – between the murder of Shirley Robinson in 1978 and that of Heather in 1987. This is only supposed from the fact that no victims have been found that died during this period.

Most experts believe, however, that it is unlikely that a sexual serial killer like Fred, or Rose, could have relented for eight years.This means it is unlikely we will ever know the true number of West victims.

Rose West is currently serving her sentences in HMP Low Newton.She will never be released.

She has still not admitted her guilt.