For decades, one of Britain’s most chilling prison rumours has refused to die: Did two of the country’s most notorious female killers—Rose West and Myra Hindley—really have a romantic fling behind bars?
Now, after years of silence and swirling speculation, Rose West has finally addressed the claims in a sharp, emotional letter that leaves no room for confusion.
And her answer? A resounding no.
Decades of Rumors Spark One Angry Response
Back in the 1990s, West and Hindley were imprisoned at Durham Prison—the same facility that housed some of the most infamous women in UK criminal history.
Whispers quickly grew that the two had developed a close and even intimate relationship while sharing time on the prison’s female wing.
The rumour was so persistent, it was eventually dramatized in the 2020 documentary Rose West and Myra Hindley – The Untold Story, hosted by Trevor McDonald, which leaned heavily on the narrative that the women were lovers.
But West, now 71 and living under the name Jennifer Jones in HMP New Hall, has finally spoken out to deny the entire thing.
Her comments came not through the media, but in a surprisingly heated letter to a criminology student who had written to ask about the alleged relationship.
“I Had Nothing to Do With Her” – West’s Fiery Denial
In the handwritten letter obtained by MailOnline, West didn’t just deny the relationship—she unleashed a furious tirade on both the media and the young man who dared to ask.
“I had nothing to do with her,” she wrote firmly, referencing Hindley.
Mocking the student for believing tabloid headlines, West dripped with sarcasm: “I don’t care if you don’t believe me – after all, what the press and media says MUST be true.
How can it not be!! All that money they rake in – all that power. WOW!”
Her anger only escalated as the letter went on, accusing the student of being gullible and lacking the courage to think independently.
In a parting jab, she warned him never to write again: “Oh, and don’t bother sending any more letters – I will only have them put through the shredder like I did your first one.”
Who Was Behind the Original Affair Claims?
The original story of West and Hindley’s alleged relationship wasn’t plucked from thin air.
One of its main sources was Leo Goatley—West’s former solicitor—who published a book in 2019 ahead of the 25th anniversary of her conviction.
In his book, Goatley claimed the two women did have a brief fling, facilitated by lax supervision on the female wing of the prison.
He even said West had told him that she preferred women sexually and had found Hindley “intelligent” and “special.”
Goatley also featured in the Trevor McDonald documentary, explaining that West had a history of relationships with women in prison and once said she was drawn to “the softness and sensuality” of women compared to men.
Hindley’s Side of the Story
Myra Hindley, convicted in the 1960s for her part in the infamous Moors Murders alongside Ian Brady, was no stranger to media backlash.
When the affair rumours began to swirl, she filed a formal complaint to the press watchdog, claiming she was being targeted by lies.
But her protest didn’t hold much weight, and sources like Goatley kept the claims alive.
Hindley, who died in 2002 in custody, never fully escaped public scrutiny.
In fact, her association with Rose West only deepened the horror many felt over her crimes.
Fellow Inmate Recalls the Odd Friendship
Former inmate Linda Calvey, once dubbed the “Black Widow,” added fuel to the fire when she appeared in the same documentary.
She recalled that Hindley and West appeared to grow close “really, really quickly,” even spending time in each other’s cells.
But just as fast, the friendship ended—abruptly and without explanation.
Calvey shared a chilling exchange she once had with Hindley: “I said, ‘It was really weird that you were really close to Rose, and then you suddenly parted,’ and she said, ‘Yeah, well I thought about it, and I thought she killed her own children.
Did I really want to mix with someone like that?’”
When Calvey pointed out Hindley had also killed children, Hindley simply replied, “Well, they weren’t mine.” Matter-of-fact. No remorse.
West’s Life Behind Bars Today
Now in her 70s, Rose West is reported to be frail and mostly alone in prison.
She reportedly starts her days with tomato soup and spends hours watching nature documentaries or knitting in her cell.
Despite changing her name to Jennifer Jones in 2020, the public remains as fascinated—and horrified—as ever by the woman whose crimes with her husband Fred West shook the nation.
Their “House of Horrors” at 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester remains one of the darkest symbols in British crime history.
Fred committed suicide in 1995 before he could face trial, while Rose was convicted of 10 murders and is serving life without parole.
From Netflix to the Headlines Again
Interest in the Wests has been reignited recently with the success of Netflix’s docuseries Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, which revisits the couple’s gruesome crimes.
Despite her continuing claims of innocence, the then-Home Secretary Jack Straw ensured Rose West would never leave prison—setting a minimum term that essentially guarantees she’ll die behind bars.
And now, with her letter denying any romantic ties to Hindley, West is making headlines again—but this time, she’s the one setting the story straight.