How old is Levi Bellfield? Serial killer serving life in prison for multiple murders

The vile murderer of Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange is one of Britain's most infamous serial killers.

Who is Levi Bellfield?

Levi Bellfield, now 50, was born Levi Rabetts in London on May 17, 1968.

He grew up on a council estate in the capital and received his first conviction while still a child for a burglary in 1981.

Later he was nicked for assaulting a police officer and by 2002 had a rap sheet of nine convictions and hand spent almost a year in prison.

His character was described as controlling and evil by police who would eventually interview him for the heinous crimes he would commit.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton of the Metropolitan Police, who led the murder hunt, said: "When we started dealing with him he came across as very jokey like he's your best mate.

"But he's a cunning individual, violent. He can switch from being nice to being nasty, instantly."

What is the ITV show Manhunt about?

Manhunt, starring Martin Clunes, is the real life story of how Delagrange's murder was liked to those of McDonnell and Dowler's.

Although relatively experienced in murder investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton of the Metropolitan Police was assigned to the case.

Hard working and instinctive, Sutton dedicated himself to finding Amelie’s killer.

Filming took place in March this year but ITV has yet to confirm when it will air.

Who did Levi Bellfield murder?

Bellfield would eventually graduate from committing the petty crimes of his youth to the most hideous murders.

The predator would target exclusively women with a particular attraction to young blondes.

Police would say he believed he was "God's gift to everyone," and fly into a rage if he was rejected by women, believing they were "worth nothing".

He would go on to murder three women and try to kill a fourth between the years of 2002 and 2004.

He killed Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange as well as attempting to murder Kate Sheedy.

When did Bellfield murder Milly Dowler?

His first victim but the last one he would be convicted of murdering was Milly Dowler.

On March 21, 2002, the 13-year-old was making her way home with friends from Heathside School in Weybridge, Surrey.

Milly caught the train to get back to her parents home in nearby Hersham, but that day she and a friend got off a stop earlier at Walton-on-Thames.

The pair made their way to a cafe for a bite to eat and at 3:47pm Milly called her dad to say she would be home in half an hour.

At 4:05pm the girls left the cafe and went their separate ways.

The last person who would see Milly alive was a friend of her sister who was stood at a nearby bus stop.

Further down the road from the cafe was a CCTV camera which never captured an image of the schoolgirl.

But it did film a red Daewoo Nexia belonging to the girlfriend of Levi Bellfield.

In 2009 the vile killer would admit he was driving that car.

When did Bellfield murder Marsha McDonnell?

In February 2003 the serial killer would claim another life.

Marsha Louise McDonnell was 19-years-old when she was beaten over the head with a blunt instrument near her home in Hampton, London.

She would spend two days in a hospital before succumbing to the injuries sustained during the vicious assault committed by Bellfield.

The murderer beat her and left her to die shortly after she got off the 111 bus.

When did Bellfield murder Amelie Delagrange?

French student Amelie was visiting Britain when Bellfield horrifically ended her life.

The 22-year-old was strolling through the streets of Twickenham, London when the killer pounced.

She was found battered in the street on August 19, 2004, just 18 months after Marsha McDonnell had been murdered.

Amelie died later that same night in hospital.

Cops had linked the two killings within 24 hours of investigating the case.

Bellfield reportedly confessed to killing the Frenchwoman while on remand.

When did Bellfield try to kill Kate Sheedy?

Bellfield tried, but thankfully failed to kill Kate Sheedy as she crossed the street in Isleworth, London on May 28 2004.

The brute ran down the then 18-year-old with his car causing her multiple injuries and hospitalising her for several weeks.

She had spent the evening saying goodbye to friends after her last day at Gumley House School, where she was head girl.

Kate missed her A-levels because of the attack but was granted her predicted grades by the exam board and went on to study history and drama at York University.

But the brave young woman would go on to play a key part in seeing justice served on the killer testifying at his trial.

In a statement, she said: "On the day I was attacked I was celebrating about moving onto a new and exciting time in my life.

"All that hope and excitement was taken from me and I thought my life had changed for ever.

"I will never be able to forget what happened to me, the scars on my body and the memories I have, are something I will never be rid of, but hopefully I can move on."

Did Bellfield murder Lin and Megan Russell?

Bellfield is alleged to have confessed to the 1996 murders of Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan.

Lawyers for Michael Stone, twice convicted for the murders and serving a life sentence, today claimed in a press conference they have new evidence of his innocence.

They are said to include a "very detailed confession" to the killings from serial killer Bellfield.

It is alleged he has confessed in length and in detail to a fellow prisoner whom he had grown to trust.

All conversations are said to have been written up contemporaneously and immediately reported to a solicitor.

However Bellfield denied both allegations of the murders and the confession when contacted by BBC Wales.

Lin and her two daughters were attacked as they walked the family dog down a country lane in Chillenden, near Dover, Kent.

They were accosted and blindfolded by their attacker before being bludgeoned with a claw hammer, one by one.

When was Bellfield convicted for his crimes?

The depraved killer was found guilty of murdering Marsha and Amelie, as well as the attempted murder of Kate on February 25, 2008, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Bellfield was also charged offences against two other women but the jury failed to reach a verdict on them.

Two years later, while behind bars, he was charged with the abduction and murder of Milly Dowler.

He was convicted of the slaying on June 23, 2011, and sentenced to life again with a recommendation that he never be released.

What is the name of Milly's sister Gemma's book about the tragedy?

Milly's sister has penned a book about the tragedy that befell her family in 2002.

Gemma Dowler's tome My Sister Milly gives an insight into the family's “sassy, funny, outgoing, talented, eccentric, cheeky and loving, fashion guru, talented musician and much-loved daughter and sister”

She was just 16 years old when her sister was abducted and murdered by Bellfield.

The book will also tell of the ongoing aftershock for the Dowlers, who were diagnosed with post- ­traumatic stress disorder in 2013.

They are said to have discovered a new form of therapy which has allowed them to tell their story.

A donation from the book’s proceeds is to be made to the charity Winston’s Wish, which supports bereaved children.

Why is he now called Yusuf Rahim?

Last year it was revealed that Bellfield had converted to Islam while behind bars.

The twisted murderer demanded to be known as Yusuf Rahim following his finding of religion.

But a source told the Daily Star the prison where he is held is a hotbed of gangs.

They said: "HMP Frankland is ruled by gangs and you are either in a white gang, black gang or Asian gang.

“If you are a child killer, rapist or a mass murderer, the only gang who are going to let you in are the Muslims but you have to convert to Islam.”

HMP Frankland is home to many of the UK's worst criminals including Peter Sutcliffe, Michael Stone, Ian Huntley and Michael Adebolajo.

Former inmates of the jail include killer doctor Harold Shipman, notorious jailbird Charles Bronson, and football pervert Adam Johnson.



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