List of serial killers in the United Kingdom

A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more people, with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. The British Centre for Crime and Justice Studies defines a serial killer when an individual has killed three or more people who were previously unknown to him or her, with a ‘cooling off’ period between each murder. This definition is accepted by both police and academic experts and therefore provides a useful frame of reference.

England

Name Years active Proven victims Possible victims Status Notes Ref
Akinmurele, Stephen 1995–1998 8 8 Committed suicide before trial Known as "The Cul-de-sac killer"; Nigerian immigrant suspected of killing elderly people in Blackpool and the Isle of Man
Allitt, Beverley 1991 4 4 Sentenced to life imprisonment Known as "The Angel of Death"; Lincolnshire paediatric nurse who killed children in her care
Balls, Jonathan 1824–1845 22 22+ Committed suicide prior to identification Poisoned relatives and acquaintances with arsenic in Happisburgh
Bellfield, Levi 2002–2004 3 3+ Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Known as "The Bus Stop Stalker"; convicted of the 2002 murder of Amanda Dowler and two fatal hammer attacks on young women in South West London.
Bierton, Lawrence 1995–2023 3 3 Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Killed two elderly sisters in Rotherham in 1995. In 2023 he was convicted of a third murder he committed while released on licence.
Bishop, John 1830 3 3 Executed in 1831 Leader of "The London Burkers"; together with Thomas Williams and two accomplices, formed a gang of body snatchers that drugged and killed victims for money
Bourne, Geordie 1590s–1597 7 7 Executed in 1597 Scottish bandit who killed seven people around the East English Marches
Brady, Ian 1963–1965 5 5 Died in prison Committed the so-called Moors murders with girlfriend Myra Hindley, killing five children and burying four of their bodies on Saddleworth Moor
Britland, Mary Ann 1886 3 3 Executed in 1886 Poisoned her daughter, husband, and the wife of her lover in 1886; first woman to be executed by hanging at Strangeways Prison
Brumfitt, Paul 1979–1999 3 3 Sentenced to life imprisonment Strangled two men, one in Tilbury and another in Denmark, in 1979; sentenced to life, but released in 1994, and later killed a prostitute in Woodsetton in 1999.
Bryan, Peter 1993–2004 3 3 Sentenced to life imprisonment Institutionalized for fatal hammer attack on woman in 1993; re-apprehended for cannibalizing a friend in 2004, but able to batter a fellow patient to death months later
Burgess, David 1966–1967 3 3 Sentenced to 27 years imprisonment Murdered three young girls in Beenham; originally convicted of two murders, he was released in 1996, only to be convicted of the third murder in 2012 after new DNA evidence was found.
Chapman, George 1897–1902 3 3 Executed in 1903 Known as "The Borough Poisoner"; Polish-born barber who poisoned his wives in London's East End
Childs, John 1974–1978 6 6 Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Apparent contract killer who killed six people in East London, although none of the bodies were ever found
Christie, John 1943–1953 8 8+ Executed in 1953 Known as "The Rillington Place Strangler"; gassed, raped and strangled at least five women from 1943 to 1953, hiding the bodies at his house in Notting Hill, London; also strangled his wife Ethel, as well as the wife and baby daughter of neighbour Timothy Evans, who was wrongfully executed for their murders.
Chua, Victorino 2011 3 7 Sentenced to life imprisonment Nurse at Stepping Hill Hospital who poisoned patients with insulin
Cotton, Mary Ann 1852–1872 21 21+ Executed in 1873 Poisoned family members and acquaintances for their insurance policies
Cream, Thomas Neill 1881–1892 5 5+ Executed in 1892 Known as "The Lambeth Poisoner"; Scottish-Canadian doctor who poisoned women with strychnine in the United States and then England
Cummins, Gordon 1941–1942 4 6 Executed in 1942 Known as "The Blackout Ripper"; RAF pilot who murdered four women in London during the wartime blackout in 1942, and suspect in two previous murders from 1941
Dawson, Andrew 1981–2010 3 3 Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order "The Angel of Mercy"; stabbed three men to death with no provocation
Dennehy, Joanna 2013 3 3 Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Stabbed three men to death and tried to kill two others selected at random in what became known as the "Peterborough ditch murders".
Duffy, John 1985–1986 3 3 Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Together with accomplice David Mulcahy, known as "The Railway Rapists"; killed three women near railway stations in Southern England
Dyer, Amelia 1869–1896 6 400+ Executed in 1896 Known as "The Ogress of Reading"; baby farmer who murdered infants in her care
Erskine, Kenneth 1986 7 11 Sentenced to life imprisonment Known as "The Stockwell Strangler"; gerontophile who murdered elderly citizens in London
Grieveson, Steven 1990–1994 4 4+ Sentenced to life imprisonment Known as "The Sunderland Strangler"; murdered four teenage boys in Sunderland
Griffiths, Stephen 2009–2010 3 3+ Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Known as "The Crossbow Cannibal"; convicted of murdering three prostitutes in Bradford
Haigh, John 1944–1949 6 9 Executed in 1949 Known as "The Acid Bath Murderer"; murdered people for money and then dissolved their bodies in sulphuric acid
Hardy, Anthony 2000–2002 3 8+ Died in prison Known as "The Camden Ripper"; abducted, murdered and dismembered women across London
Hardy, Trevor 1974–1976 3 3 Died in prison Known as "The Beast of Manchester"; killed three teenage girls in Manchester
Herbert, Philip 1678–1680 3 3 Died a free man Nobleman known for assaulting and sometimes killing fellow peers for no discernible reason; although he faced lesser charges, research indicates that he was responsible for all the murders attributed to him
Hindley, Myra 1963–1965 5 5 Died in prison Committed the so-called Moors murders with boyfriend Ian Brady, killing five children and burying four of their bodies on Saddleworth Moor
Ireland, Colin 1993 5 5 Died in prison Known as "The Gay Slayer"; killed five gay men in London to seek attention from the media
Jebson, Ronald 1970–1974 3 3 Died in prison Paedophile responsible for the 1970 Babes in the Wood murders and the murder of another child
Johnson, Theodore 1981–2016 3 3 Sentenced to 30 years imprisonment Jamaican immigrant who murdered his wife and two girlfriends
Lee, Bruce George Peter 1973–1979 12 26 Sentenced to involuntary commitment Arsonist responsible for multiple deaths during acts of arson in Kingston upon Hull; some convictions have been quashed
Letby, Lucy 2015–2016 7 7+ Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order NHS nurse convicted of killing 7 babies and attempting to kill 6 others whilst working as a neonatal nurse at Countess of Chester Hospital
Ligus, Robin 1994–1996 3 4 Died in prison Drug addict convicted of robbing and bludgeoning three men to death with an iron bar in Shropshire
Lupo, Michael 1985–1986 4 4 Died in prison Known as "The Wolf Man"; Italian immigrant who killed fellow gay men in London
Mackay, Patrick 1974–1975 3 11 Sentenced to life imprisonment Thrill killer who killed people during thefts and robberies
Martin, Mark 2004–2005 3 3 Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Known as "The Sneinton Strangler"; murdered homeless women in Nottingham with two accomplices to become famous
Maudsley, Robert 1974–1978 4 4 Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Killed a man in London, and later two cellmates in prison and one fellow patient in Broadmoor Hospital
Morris, Raymond Leslie 1965–1967 3 3 Died in prison Raped and murdered prepubescent girls and left their corpses on Cannock Chase.
Mulcahy, David 1985–1986 3 3 Sentenced to life imprisonment Together with accomplice John Duffy, known as "The Railway Rapists"; killed three women near railway stations in Southern England
Napper, Robert 1992–1993 3 3 Sentenced to involuntary commitment Known as "The Green Chain Rapist"; raped, murdered and mutilated women and children
Neilson, Donald 1971–1975 4 4 Died in prison Known as "The Black Panther"; killed post office clerks and heiress Lesley Whittle
Nilsen, Dennis 1978–1983 12 15 Died in prison Known as "The Muswell Hill Murderer"; lured and murdered young men at his flat in London, ritually dissecting their bodies post-mortem
Norris, Colin 2002 4 10 Sentenced to life imprisonment Scottish nurse who poisoned elderly patients he considered "difficult" at a hospital in Leeds
Port, Stephen 2014–2015 4 4 Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Known as "The Grindr Killer"; serial rapist who drugged, sexually assaulted and murdered men in Barking, London that he met on dating apps
Sach, Amelia 1900–1902 20 20+ Executed in 1903 Together with accomplice Annie Walters, known as "The Finchley Baby Farmers"; murdered infants placed in their care
Shipman, Harold 1975–1998 218 250+ Committed suicide in prison Known as "Dr Death"; general practitioner who murdered patients placed in his care; only British doctor to be convicted of such charges. Convicted of 15 murders and responsible for the deaths of 218 patients identified by inquiry, but is believed to have killed around 250 people.
Smith, George Joseph 1912–1914 3 3 Executed in 1915 Bigamist who murdered three women by drowning them in his bath in what became known as the "Brides in the Bath Murders"
Smith, Rebecca 1830s–1849 8 8 Executed in 1849 Poisoned eight of her newborn children; last British woman to be executed for infanticide of her own child
Straffen, John 1951–1952 3 3 Died in prison Murdered a young girl to get revenge on police; confined to mental hospital, escaped and killed two others
Sutcliffe, Peter 1975–1980 13 14+ Died in prison Known as "The Yorkshire Ripper"; murdered women around West Yorkshire and Manchester; the manhunt for him was one of the most extensive and expensive in British history
Walters, Annie 1900–1902 20 20+ Executed in 1903 Together with accomplice Amelia Sach, known as "The Finchley Baby Farmers"; murdered infants placed in their care
West, Fred 1967–1987 12 13+ Committed suicide before trial Together with his wife Rose, known as "The House of Horrors Murderers"; tortured and murdered teenage girls and young women around Gloucestershire; Fred committed some separate killings on his own [unreliable source?]
West, Rose 1971–1987 10 10 Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Together with her husband Fred, known as "The House of Horrors Murderers"; tortured and murdered teenage girls and young women around Gloucestershire [unreliable source?]
Williams, Thomas 1830 3 3 Executed in 1831 Member of "The London Burkers"; together with John Bishop and two accomplices, formed a gang of body snatchers that drugged and killed victims for money
Wright, Steve 2006 5 5+ Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Known as "The Suffolk Strangler"; killed five women in six weeks around Ipswich
Young, Graham 1962–1971 3 3+ Died in prison Known as "The Teacup Poisoner"; poisoned school friends and family at age fourteen in 1961, killing his stepmother in 1962. Detained at Broadmoor Hospital. Released in 1971, he began poisoning coworkers, murdering two. His case sparked debate on the treatment of mentally-ill offenders, leading to legislation being passed

Northern Ireland

Name Years active Proven victims Possible victims Status Notes Ref
Shankill Butchers 1975–1982 23 23+ Various Ulster loyalist gang who murdered people in sectarian attacks
Murphy, Lenny 1972–1982 11 (not including Shankill Butchers murders) 34+ (including Shankill Butchers murders) Shot dead by Provisional IRA gunmen on 16 November 1982 Leader of the Loyalist Shankill Butchers death squad. He killed as part of the gang but also on his own prior to its establishment

Scotland

Name Years active Proven victims Possible victims Status Notes Ref
Black, Robert 1981–1986 4 4+ Died in prison Paedophilic lorry driver who raped and murdered underage girls across the UK; suspected in other murders across several European countries
Burke, William 1828 16 16 Executed in 1829 Irish immigrant who killed people and sold their corpses for money along with accomplice William Hare
Hall, Archibald 1977–1978 5 5 Died in prison Known as "The Monster Butler"; murdered people to cover up his crimes while working as a butler for British aristocracy, some with the help of accomplice Michael Kitto
Hare, William 1828 16 16 Unknown; died after 1829 Irish immigrant who killed people and sold their corpses for money along with accomplice William Burke
Manuel, Peter 1956–1958 7 9 Executed in 1958 Known as "The Beast of Birkenshaw"; American-born killer who murdered people across Lanarkshire
Mone, Robert 1967–1976 4 4 Sentenced to life imprisonment Raped and murdered a teacher; later escaped from a mental hospital and killed three more people
Sinclair, Angus 1961–1978 4 8+ Died in prison Raped and murdered young women in Edinburgh and Glasgow; his case prompted significant changes to the double jeopardy laws in the UK
Tobin, Peter 1991–2006 3 3+ Died in prison Sex offender who raped and murdered young women in Scotland and England; suspect in numerous violent crimes dating back to the late 1960s

Wales

Name Years active Proven victims Possible victims Status Notes Ref
Cooper, John 1985–1998 4 9 Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Known as "The Bullseye Killer"; committed two double murders in Pembrokeshire; suspected in other murders and numerous sexual assaults
Kappen, Joseph 1973 3 4+ Died prior to identification Known as "The Saturday Night Strangler"; raped and murdered three teenage girls in Llandarcy and Tonmawr; first serial killer to be posthumously identified via familial DNA profiling
Moore, Peter 1995 4 4 Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order Known as "The Man in Black"; English cinema owner who and stabbed men to death "for fun" in Denbighshire and Anglesey. Moore also committed at least 39 sexual assaults on men in North Wales and the Merseyside area over a 20-year period

Unidentified serial killers

Name Years active Proven victims Possible victims Regions where active Notes Ref
Bible John 1968–1969 3 3 Glasgow Murdered three young women he met at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow; nickname derived from his repeated quotations from the Bible
Jack the Ripper 1888 5 20 Greater London Murdered prostitutes in London's Whitechapel area of the East End, mutilating their bodies post-mortem
Jack the Stripper 1964–1965 6 8 Greater London Strangled prostitutes in West London and dumped their bodies in and near to the River Thames
Thames Torso Murderer 1887–1889 4 4+ Greater London Murdered prostitutes around London, then dismembered their remains and dumped them into the River Thames; some speculate that these killings were committed by Jack the Ripper, but this has not been confirmed

See also

Bibliography

  • Burkhalter Chmelir, Sandra (2003). "Serial Killers". In Robert Kastenbaum (ed.). Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan Reference USA/Thomson/Gale. p. 1. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  • Morton, RJ (2005). "Serial murder multi-disciplinary perspectives for investigators" (PDF). Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 16 July 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Hollandsworth, Skip (2015). The Midnight Assassin (1st ed.). New York: Henry Holt. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-8050-9767-2.
  • Lane, Brian; Gregg, Wilfred (1995) [1992]. The Encyclopedia Of Serial Killers. New York City: Berkley Book. ISBN 0-425-15213-8.

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