A woman who shared a prison cell with infamous serial killer Rose West has disclosed the unsettling advice she received before her release. Rose West, serving a life sentence since 1995 for the brutal murders of ten individuals alongside her late husband Fred, is widely recognized as one of the most notorious serial killers in the UK.
Stephanie, not your typical offender, found herself incarcerated in November 2024 for a two-year term due to fraud, having embezzled £30,000 from her workplace by manipulating financial records. Reflecting on her experience in a personal account for The Sun, the 28-year-old expressed surprise at being confined with sex offenders, terrorists, and violent criminals after her sentencing.
During her time in various prisons, Stephanie’s final weeks were spent at the Rivendell unit in HM Prison New Hall, a women’s correctional facility in Flockton village near Wakefield, where she encountered Rose West, who now goes by Jennifer Jones. West complimented Stephanie’s name upon their introduction, highlighting the relatively peaceful environment of their shared unit compared to other prisons, mentioning a previous incident involving threats from another inmate, Joanna Dennehy.
Stephanie’s observations shed light on West’s current lifestyle, characterized by mundane activities such as watching David Attenborough documentaries, expressing a fondness for a Madagascar animal believed to be a hedgehog, and engaging in sewing. Stephanie noted the orderly state of West’s cell, equipped with DVDs, and the communal exchange of breakfast items among inmates.
In a parting conversation, Rose West reportedly warned Stephanie against a life of imprisonment, advising her to seek help from authorities when encountering dangerous individuals. Reports indicate that the Cromwell Street property, once dubbed the “House of Horrors,” has been transformed, yet local residents remain apprehensive about its history. Despite the demolition of the house in 1996, nearby residents still claim to sense an eerie presence when passing by, with one resident describing a lingering unsettling energy that deters them from walking down the former site.
Patsy Dooley, a resident living near the area, expressed discomfort and a sense of unease associated with the site’s dark past, stating that the knowledge of past events creates a palpable discomfort for those near the location.