Murderers who were imprisoned where Lucy Letby is likely to spend rest of her life

Content warning: The subject matter in this article may be upsetting to some readers

This week, Lucy Letby was sentenced to a whole life order, meaning she will die in prison.

The former neonatal nurse was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill a further six, making her one of the UK's most prolific serial killers.

During a hearing at Manchester Crown Court yesterday (21 August), which the 33-year-old refused to attend, devastating testimonies from the victims' families were read out.

They branded Letby a 'coward' and told the court they felt 'heartbroken, devastated, angry and numb'.

Following her sentence, Letby will likely end up serving her sentence at HMP Low Newton in Durham.

Potential inmates include those who committed a serious violent act against another person and pose a high risk of committing other serious offences.

The prison is also part of the Primrose Project, which aims to treat criminals with severe personality disorders.

Cheshire Constabulary

It is made up of seven wings, as well as a healthcare unit, and houses over 240 prisoners as of last year.

According to the annual report by the Independent Monitoring Board, inmates are able to use an on-site shop, called Rags to Riches, which is said to be 'popular with the women'.

In the past, the prison has organised animal visits, with sheep and goats brought in as well as a residential rabbit and two birds.

Convicted prisoners there are also allowed to have at least two visits a month, though this can be reviewed if more are requested.

Over the years, the maximum security prison had housed some of the most depraved killers in the country's history.

One of those Letby could join behind bars at the prison is Joanna Dennehy.

In 2013, the 41-year-old went on a 10-day killing spree, murdering three men.

At the time, it was revealed in court that she had told a psychiatrist she had killed 'to see if I was as cold as I thought I was'.

Cambridgeshire Police

She said: "Then it got moreish and I got a taste for it."

Dennehy, who was branded the country's 'most dangerous female prisoner', was the third woman to receive a whole life sentence and reportedly remains at Low Newton to this day.

Previously, Rose West, who was convicted of murdering 10 women with her husband Fred West in 1995, served part of her sentence at the same prison.

The couple's daughter, Mae, believes that they may have been responsible for up to 30 deaths.

West, now 69, is currently being held at HMP New Hall in Flockton, West Yorkshire.

Another former inmate at HMP Low Newton was Tracey Connelly, the mother of 'Baby P'.

The 17-month-old suffered more than fifty injuries over an eight-month period between 2006 and 2007, when he tragically died.

During a trial at the Old Bailey, she was convicted of causing or allowing the death of 'Baby P' at their home in Tottenham, north London, on 3 August, 2007.

PA

She was released from prison last year.

Sharon Carr, who was branded 'The Devil's Daughter', was sent to HMP Low Newton very briefly in December 2018.

In 1992, aged just 12-years-old at the time, Carr murdered Katie Rackliff, 18, picking her out at random as she left a nightclub in Camberley.

She was sentenced to life with a minimum of 14 years behind bars in 1997 but remains in prison at HMP Bronzefield, Europe's largest women's prison.

While it's believed that Letby will end up at Low Newton, some reports have suggested she could also be incarcerated at Bronzefield.

According to the prison, 572 women are incarcerated there including Shauna Hoare, who murdered teenager Becky Watts in 2015, and Roshonara Choudhry, who attempted to murder MP Stephen Timms in 2010.

And though the prison offers rehabilitation programmes aimed at reducing reoffending rates for those who will one day be released, Letby's sentence means she has no such chance.

Prison expert Mark Leech told The Telegraph that Letby would be a 'restricted status' prisoner, which means she is considered high risk and the equivalent of a Category A prisoner.

He said she would be on suicide watch and spend at least the first six months of her lifelong sentence out of the general prison population.