A new Channel 5 documentary examines the disgusting crimes of Levi Bellfield, killer of Milly Dowler – but who were his other victims?
The English serial killer and sex offender famously murdered schoolgirl Milly, but there were more tragic young women he preyed upon.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Read more: Manhunt series 2: Martin Clunes praised as he returns as DCI Colin Sutton
Who is Milly Dowler murderer Levi Bellfield?
Levi is a former doorman and car clamper, who committed (at least) three murders.
In 2002, the sick criminal killed schoolgirl Milly Dowler.
He was born in Isleworth, London, in May 1968.
Others call him Yusuf Rahim, after he converted to Islam in 2016.
Gruesome nicknames include The Bus Stop Stalker, The Bus Stop Killer and The Hammer Man.
Police convicted Levi of burglary, assault and driving offences before he moved on to murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton of the Metropolitan Police, who led the murder investigation, said of Levi: “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.”
Who were Levi Bellfield’s victims besides Milly Dowler?
Levi murdered three young girls during his crime spree, and attempted others – including Kate Sheedy.
He ran Kate over as she crossed the road near an entrance to an industrial estate in Isleworth on May 28 2004.
She survived, but suffered multiple injuries and spent several weeks in hospital.
She gave evidence against him nearly four years later.
He murdered Amélie Delagrange, Marsha McDonnell and Milly Dowler.
Read more: Levi Bellfield: Eldest daughter among his 11 children wants him to ‘rot in hell’
Marsha McDonnell
Levi beat Marsha Louise McDonnell, 19, over the head with a blunt instrument near her home in Hampton in February 2003.
He inflicted the wound shortly after she got off the 111 bus from Kingston upon Thames at the stop on Percy Road.
Tragically, she died in hospital two days after being admitted.
Levi sold his Vauxhall Corsa car six days after the murder to destroy any evidence.
Amélie Delagrange
Levi ran a wheel-clamping business which operated in and around West Drayton, where he lived.
Witnesses saw him driving around in his van, talking to young girls at bus stops.
CCTV cameras showed Amélie Delagrange walking towards Twickenham Green after she missed her stop on the bus home.
Amélie Delagrange was a 22-year-old French student visiting the UK.
Passersby found her on Twickenham Green on the evening of August 19 2004 with serious head injuries.
She died in hospital the same night.
The police believed she was killed by the same person who had killed Marsha McDonnell 18 months earlier.
Levi confessed to the murder while on remand.
Levi Bellfield Milly Dowler
Amanda Jane ‘Milly’ Dowler was just 13 when Levi targeted her.
She went missing after leaving Walton-on-Thames railway station on March 21 2002 and was found dead in Yateley Heath Woods six months later.
The search for Milly dominated news reports and newspaper headlines during that time, and for long afterwards.
In August 2009, Surrey Police submitted a dossier to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) containing evidence of Levi’s involvement in Milly’s murder.
He was charged with the kidnapping and murder of Milly on March 30 2010, as well as the attempted kidnapping of then 12-year-old Rachel Cowles.
At the time, he refused to give evidence at his trial and denied any involvement in Milly’s death.
However, a jury convicted him of murder on June 23 2011, and he later confessed.
When was Milly Dowler killer Levi Bellfield arrested?
Levi Bellfield was arrested early on the morning of 22 November 2004 on suspicion of the murder of Amélie Delagrange.
On November 25, he was charged with three counts of rape in Surrey and West London.
On December 9 2004, he was charged with assaulting a woman in Twickenham between 1995 and 1997 and remanded in custody.
He was then rearrested and charged with Delagrange’s murder on March 2 2006, along with the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy and the attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm to Irma Dragoshi.
On May 25 2006, he was charged with the murder of Marsha McDonnell.
He later confessed to the kidnapping, rape and murder of Milly Dowler.
Where is he now?
Levi, now 52, is serving three life sentences.
He lives in HMP Frankland, Country Durham – and probably will for the rest of his life.
He attempted to take his own life in October 2019.
Before that, he was in HM Prison Wakefield.
Hallelujah to that.
Levi Bellfield family
Levi has fathered 11 children with three women.
The three youngest of which is with his most recent girlfriend, Emma Mills.
Emma was 17 when she met Levi and she lived with him for nine years and had three children.
Levi Bellfield: Getting Away with Murder? on Channel 5
This documentary examines the crimes of the serial killer.
It questions how the prolific criminal managed to remain free for so long.
The one-off documentary is a follow-up to the previous feature length documentary, The Abduction of Milly Dowler.
New evidence suggests that Bellfield has an offending history even longer than previously thought.
The programme explores his dark past, and asks how many other violent crimes he might have committed.
Manhunt on ITV
In Manhunt, Martin Clunes starred as DCI Sutton, who pursued serial killer Levi Bellfield.
The drama shows how cops eventually linked the murders of Amelie Delagrange, Marsha McDonnell and Milly Dowler.
Nine million viewers watched the series, making it the highest rated new drama of 2019 on any channel.
A second series of Manhunt is currently airing on ITV1.
Levi Bellfield: Getting Away with Murder airs at 10pm on C5 on Wednesday September 22 2021.
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