The government has recently implemented a new ban on marriage and civil partnerships for all inmates serving whole life sentences, preventing serial killer Levi Bellfield from marrying behind bars. Bellfield, a former bouncer, is currently serving two whole-life sentences at HMP Frankland for the murders of three young women, including 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler in 2002.
Prison authorities had previously warned that they would not be able to block Bellfield’s marriage application under the existing laws, as he planned to challenge any refusal with the help of £30,000 in legal aid. However, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has now introduced legislation that prohibits whole-life prisoners from submitting marriage or civil partnership applications altogether.
Whole-life orders are reserved for the most severe murder cases, such as serial or child murders involving premeditation or sadistic conduct. There are currently fewer than 70 prisoners serving such sentences. Mahmood emphasized that victims should not have to witness individuals who commit heinous crimes enjoy privileges that were stolen from their loved ones.
Bellfield’s engagement was first reported in 2022, when he proposed to his girlfriend during a jail visit. Despite his application being rejected, he intended to challenge the decision based on human rights laws regarding security grounds. The ban on whole-life prisoners marrying was enacted through a statutory instrument laid in parliament, as part of the Victims and Prisoners Act.
In 2008, Bellfield received a whole-life sentence for the murders of Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange, as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy. He was later found guilty of abducting and killing Milly Dowler in 2011. The justice secretary retains the authority to permit ceremonies in exceptional circumstances, despite the new ban on marriages for whole-life prisoners.
