Serial killer Rose West threatens to kill herself if she goes blind in prison

Rose West who is in prison for killing several women, was diagnosed with irreversible glaucoma in July and is said to be devastated at the prospect of losing her sight and her ‘middle class’ life in jail at HMP Newton, near Durham.

A prison insider told Mirror newspaper:

‘It’s already affected her sight. She’s wearing her specs all the time. She’s told people she’ll kill herself if she ends up blind. But apart from her vision, she’s fit as an ox.’

Adding she now relies heavily on her trademark glasses to get around, despite having not worn them for years.
The 64-year-old will spend the rest of her life behind bars after being convicted of 10 murders in 1995 and is only the second woman in Britain to have been told she will die in jail.
West was convicted for her role in murdering the women and girls with husband Fred, including their daughter Heather and eight-year-old stepdaughter Charmaine. It is thought she tortured and killed many of them with husband Fred, who killed himself while awaiting trial.

Many victims were sexually abused and buried at their home in Cromwell Street, Gloucester.
West is said to be enjoying a ‘middle class’ life in jail that involves her getting regular foot massages from fellow prisoners. A prison insider said: ‘‘There’s nothing wrong with her, more’s the pity.
‘But it’s hardly surprising, is it? She’s treated like royalty in there.’ She is said to live very comfortably and apparently has a TV, radio, coffee machine and ‘fluffy rug’ in her cell.
She is described as the ‘prison matriarch’ and gets along well with other prisoners, who she offers free haircuts to and reciprocated foot massages. West also apparently plays board games with them, teaches them to cross-stitch and offers advice.

‘She is always very welcoming to new convicts and often befriends some of the harder cases coming into the prison. ‘She sees herself as a barrack-room lawyer and will spend a lot of time helping people with legal problems.’