Notorious serial killer Rose West has faced significant disciplinary action within the prison system after being accused of sexually assaulting a vulnerable young female inmate. The 72-year-old, who is serving a whole-life term for the murder of ten girls and women alongside her late husband Fred West, allegedly targeted a woman in her twenties while incarcerated.
Allegations of Grooming and Assault
According to prison sources, West reportedly groomed the younger inmate over several weeks before the alleged attack occurred. The incident is said to have taken place within a cell, where West allegedly attempted to force herself upon the victim after exploiting her vulnerability through a calculated friendship.
Prison staff were alerted to the situation and responded promptly, removing West from the immediate environment. She was subsequently hauled before a prison governor for an official adjudication, where she was found guilty of misconduct related to the allegations.
Loss of Prison Privileges
As a result of the disciplinary proceedings, West has been stripped of the enhanced status she previously held within the prison system. This demotion means she has lost numerous privileges that were available to her as an enhanced prisoner.
These revoked privileges reportedly include extra spending money, television and DVD access, participation in workshop activities, and increased time outside her cell. West has also faced extended periods of confinement to her cell following the incident, significantly restricting her movements and activities within the prison.
Ongoing Danger Assessment
A prison source emphasised that despite West's age and frail appearance, she remains a serious danger to others. "Rose looks like a frail pensioner, but she is still extremely dangerous - as this attack shows," the insider revealed, highlighting concerns about her continued predatory behaviour even after decades behind bars.
The incident has reportedly caused shockwaves throughout the prison population, with inmates discussing the allegations extensively. "The whole prison is talking about it and inmates are shocked, despite what they might have done themselves," the source added, indicating the severity with which the allegations are viewed within the prison community.
Specialist Prison Accommodation
West is currently being held at HMP New Hall near Wakefield in West Yorkshire, where she resides in a specialist unit designed to provide a psychologically informed environment for female prisoners. This unit typically offers inmates access to various activities including gardening, yoga, knitting sessions, and film nights, along with movement around landscaped outdoor areas.
However, following the adjudication, West has lost access to many of these activities and privileges. The prisoner, who changed her name to Jennifer Jones by deed poll in 2020, has been incarcerated since 1995 when she was convicted of her horrific crimes.
Historical Crimes Revisited
Rose West and her husband Fred carried out a campaign of abuse and murder spanning more than two decades, with victims buried at their Cromwell Street home in Gloucester and other locations. Their victims included West's own daughter Heather, who was murdered, dismembered and buried in the garden at age sixteen, and her stepdaughter Charmaine.
Fred West died by suicide in 1995 while awaiting trial, leaving Rose to face justice alone. She received a whole-life sentence for her role in the torture and murder of at least ten women and girls. The couple's crimes were revisited last year in the Netflix documentary Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, bringing renewed attention to their horrific legacy.
It remains unclear whether prison officers intervened during the alleged assault itself or whether the victim raised the alarm afterwards. The Prison Service has been approached for comment regarding the disciplinary proceedings and West's current status within the prison system.
