For decades, Britain’s most notorious criminals from Charles Bronson to murderer Thelma Purchase have been marrying partners behind bars.
Whether fellow inmates, ordinary members of the public or morbid fans, some of the UK’s most hated names have been able to marry or have civil partnerships confirmed while serving lengthy sentences.
But the new Justice Secretary has announced a crackdown on the privilege in a relief for victims and their families, with those sentenced to a whole life order now banned.
It means the likes of ex-Met police officer and murderer Wayne Couzens would never be able to marry or have a civil partnership as they live out the rest of their days at His Majesty’s Pleasure.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: ‘Victims should not be tormented by seeing those who commit the most depraved crimes enjoy the moments in life that were stolen from their loved ones. That is why I have acted as soon as possible to stop these marriages and give victims the support they deserve.’
As the new legislation is signed into the Victims and Prisoners Act, MailOnline takes a look at some of the most high-profile prison marriages in recent years.
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson, 71, has been married twice behind bars but his most recent wife died just months later
Bronson was first married to Irene Dunroe (pictured) after the pair met aged just 19
Known as Britain’s ‘most violent inmate’, Charles Bronson, 71, made himself a household name by kidnapping prison officers and staging protests against his treatment in jail.
Sentenced to lengthy periods in jail for armed robbery, attacking fellow prisoners and guards, Bronson has been imprisoned almost constantly since the mid-1970s.
After splitting from his first wife Irene Dunroe, who he met at the age of 18, he began exchanging letters with Fatema Saira Rehman, who moved to the UK from Bangladesh after allegedly being forced into marriage there.
The pair met at HMP Woodhill in 2001 and got married three years later. Ms Rehman, who was 31 at the time to Bronson’s 48, first fell for the criminal after seeing his photograph in a newspaper. The pair divorced in 2006.
Then in 2017 Bronson married a soap actress Paula Williamson, who boasted appearances in Coronation Street, Hollyoaks and Emmerdale.
The couple married at Wakefield jail after a bizarre ceremony in which she entered the jail under a purple cloak.
It was reported Bronson wooed the actress by singing her a Frank Sinatra song over the phone. He was handcuffed to a warden for the entire two-hour ceremony.
Ms Williamson was sadly found dead at a property in July 2019, aged just 38.
Thelma Yvonne Purchase
Thelma Purchase encouraged her son and his friend to suffocate Greg Baker, 61, who she was caring for
Murdering care worker Thelma Purchase was jailed for life in 2008 after killing a disabled man she was looking after with help from her son and his friend.
Greg Baker, 61, was killed in a plot to net £60,000 from his will masterminded by the care worker, who was ordered to serve a minimum term of 30 years.
During her imprisonment Purchase became romantically involved with fellow murderer Tai Pilley, a trans woman who was moved to a female prison after receiving gender reassignment surgery.
The pair had a civil partnership ceremony at HMP New Hall in 2010.
But their relationship reportedly later ran into trouble after Purchase became close to another inmate.
Pilley, previously known as Douglas Wakefield, murdered an uncle in 1974 by beating him with a hammer and stabbing him 48 times.
Wakefield also killed a fellow inmate at Pankhurst before gender surgery.
Julian Assange
Julian Assange, 53, married his long-term girlfriend Stella Morris while imprisoned in HMP Belmarsh
Wikileaks founded Julian Assange, 53, got married to his long-term partner Stella Morris in March 2022 as a battle over his possible extradition to the US raged on.
Assange was imprisoned in HMP Belmarsh after being arrested at the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he previously sought asylum to escape extradition.
Ms Morris campaigned tirelessly for him to be released during his imprisonment, as the US sought him over 18 counts relating to the release of military records and diplomatic cables.
At their wedding the couple wore outfits designed by Dame Vivienne Westwood.
‘This is not a prison wedding,’ Ms Morris said. ‘It is a declaration of love and resilience in spite of the prison walls, in spite of the political persecution, in spite of the arbitrary detention, in spite of the harm and harassment inflicted on Julian and our family.
‘Their torment only makes our love grow stronger.’
Assange has since been released from prison and has returned to his native Australia.
Levi Bellfield
Serial killer Levi Bellfield, 56, has tried several times to get married or have a civil partnership with his girlfriend, but has now been blocked by new legislation
Milly Dowler, 13, was murdered by Bellfield in 2002 as he embarked on his killing spree
Marsha McDonnell, 19, also fell victim to the evil killer – who has been banned from getting married under new legislation
French national Amelie Delagrange, 22, also killed by Bellfield, was found with a serious head injury lying on Twickenham Green, south west London
Serial killer Levi Bellfield, 56, had hoped to have a civil partnership under laws that, until now, allow prisoners to marry with the permission of the jail’s governor.
But he has been blocked from having the ceremony after a new law came into force stopping the most serious offenders getting married behind bars.
Bellfield is serving two whole life orders for killing 13-year-old Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange, as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy.
It is understood he had recently submitted the application for a civil partnership, which is believed to have spurred the Government on to bring the restriction blocking those serving whole life orders from marrying from today.
Previously Bellfield had applied to marry his girlfriend and made a bid for legal aid to challenge a decision to block his marriage.
It is understood he withdrew his application to get married but had submitted a new application for a civil partnership in recent months.
Bellfield was reportedly put in touch with his now-fiance by Peter Sutcliffe, after seeing a picture of her in the Yorkshire Ripper’s cell.
