Serial killer Rose West, 72, is reportedly "on her last legs" as her health deteriorates at HMP New Hall, a high-security prison in West Yorkshire. The 72-year-old, who has spent 31 years behind bars for her role in the murders of at least nine women and girls, is said to be so frail that she would be unable to evacuate the prison independently in the event of a fire or other emergency.
According to a source speaking to the Mirror, West has been placed on a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) due to her declining health. The plan is designed to ensure that prison staff can keep offenders with disabilities or health conditions safe during an emergency evacuation.
Health Deterioration and PEEP
A source told the Sun that West is in a "really bad way" and can "barely move." The source said: "The fact she has this PEEP in place shows what a poor state her health is in. Having a PEEP is extremely rare and officers only use them for those in the most danger if there is an emergency."
The source added: "And people have been talking about how West is on her last legs and does not have long left because of her health. She cannot leave her wing and is also resigned to dying in jail."
They continued: "She cannot really move unaided and has to be protected by staff. She rarely goes outside and cannot go to the gym or take part in activities like yoga. All she can do really is watch telly and read as she rots away in her cell."
Background and Imprisonment
West was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1995 for her part in the murders committed between 1967 and 1987 at her home in Gloucester with her husband Fred West. Fred, who buried numerous victims at the property dubbed the "House of Horrors," took his own life in 1995 while awaiting trial at the age of 53.
West has been held at HMP New Hall since 2019, following her transfer from Low Newton prison in Durham. A spokesman for the Prison Service said: "Rose West's crimes were horrific, and she will rightly spend the rest of her life behind bars."
Prison Concerns and Diet
West's deteriorating health comes as fellow inmates at New Hall have reportedly voiced concerns about weight gain, according to the Mirror. A recent report found that prisoners transferred from other jails felt the food on offer was too "carb heavy." Inspectors from the Independent Monitoring Board revealed that the catering manager had been tasked with sourcing "healthier and more nutritionally balanced meals."
Several years ago, West was reportedly placed on a strict diet by prison doctors after being deemed "dangerously overweight." She had ballooned to 18 stone, having consumed an unhealthy diet of cake, crisps and chocolate throughout her time behind bars. Her current condition is said to be deteriorating, with the PEEP in place as a precautionary measure.
