Is This Punishment?

Bronzefield Prison,Middlesex, a dowdy fifty-something woman enjoying a Bank Holiday fair, tucking into barbecued chicken and watching a steel band in the sunshine later in the day, having spent £5 worth of "Monopoly money" on fairground games, prisoner GJ0017 then returned to her prison wing, letting herself back into her cell with her own key.

Her cell contains a TV, DVD player and stereo. Curtains hang across the window, while shelves hold books, pictures and cards from well-wishers. She has access to a sewing machine and embroidery kit, her own kettle and has the run of Bravo wing at the prison, where she works loading and unloading washing machines in the laundry room.

Rose West , 54, was jailed for life in 1995. Britain's most prolific female serial killer has it nice and cozy in her cell.
As one of 35 of the most "well-behaved" prisoners, she also has her own cutlery, curtains, bedspread and a new duvet.

She was convicted of ten counts of murder aiding her husband Fred who hanged in prison himself on New Year's Day 1995.

She still maintains her innocence and even believes she, too, should be counted a victim - not just of her husband Fred but also of an "evil" Establishment conspiring to keep her locked up for the rest of her life.

Rosemary West believes that she bears little responsibility for the killings at Cromwell Street.
She also clearly believes that she has been made a scapegoat for her husband, and that, had he not hanged himself, the case against her might not have been proved.

She was visited on a number of occasions by Anne-Marie, her stepdaughter, the sister of murdered Charmaine. Considering it was Anne-Marie's shocking evidence which helped convict Rose this was very unsual .

She told the court how she was raped and sexually abused by her father Fred from the age of eight while her stepmother Rosemary "looked on smirking and laughing". Both later abused her in the cellar of their home.

There are eight surviving siblings and a lot of them have changed their names and are living all around the country, Anne-Marie wants to retain some kind of contact with Rose on behalf of them.

Ever the control freak Rose made a surprise move by severing contact with her children, this was because she was losing power over them.

In 2006 Mae, who at 34 is the second eldest daughter, wrote to her mother putting a number of "uncomfortable" questions.

In response, she received a letter back saying not to get in touch again.

It stated: "I was NEVER a parent and could never be now. I was hoping and still do that it was a choice you made rather than a feeling of expectation that I could live up to your hopes of having a 'good mother'.

"I have mentioned on several occasions that if you wanted to break contact with me I would understand perfectly. "

"I am sorry Mae - I can't be something different now. "

"My intention was to make myself available, to allow you children to have someone to come to and maybe get some answers to your unanswered questions."

"As it is I can see that I have only made matters worse. "

Her prison job earns her a few pounds a week.
But she is happiest of all in her cell, the place she calls her "bubble".

There she'll knit, watch television ("I can't watch anything about serial killers! No matter how make-believe") and listen to music, while curled up under her duvet.
She has retreated to her comfortable prison world. She wrote:

"Ours is a lonely path, the rewards are small, but, I believe, are still worth clinging onto!!"