15 November 2023 , 18:41
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A creepy Facebook group has emerged full of Lucy Letby fans gushing over the serial baby murderer - and the Mirror has spoken to experts about the strange psychology behind such behaviour.
Public group 'Pervert$ unite to support Lucy Letby' - which currently has 226 members - ranges from people convinced the serial killer nurse is innocent of her horrific crimes, to others who openly speak of their infatuation with her. Letby, 33, murdered seven infants and attempted to murder six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 and June 2016. In August she was sentenced to life in prison with a whole life order imposed - and is understood to be an inmate at HMP Low Newton, a closed prison for women in County Durham.
She is currently appealing her convictions, while police have opened new investigations to review the possibility of her committing other crimes over the course of her career. A variety of campaigns and groups have been set up, including across social media, with members convinced Letby is the victim of a conspiracy or a miscarriage of justice.
However, the 'Pervert$' group - which was initially called 'Lucy Letby Support Page' before being changed on October 19 - is among those that has evolved into a fan page of mostly male commenters. The name itself appears to be satirical - altered by an administrator who seems to have distanced themselves from the page. The group bio has also been changed to: "She did it you dumb f***s so stop w****** over a baby killers pics."
Letby was given a whole life order in prison for her crimes (Countess of Chester Hospital)
The 33-year-old 'rogue' nurse was convicted of the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six more (PA)None of this appears to have deterred some of the members. Many are still posting about her innocence in a fairly tame manner, but other posts range all the way up to those looking to contact her directly or sharing their sexual fantasies about her. On the lower end of the scale, one said: "I believe her case to be the biggest miscarriage of justice in the UK ever. She is an innocent lady." The post was ended with an emoji surrounded by love hearts. Another has posted a photo of a card which reads "Sending hugs" on the front and "Thinking of you" on the inside. He said: "Let's show Lucy our support. I will send this card (and write a message) to Lucy." And alongside a photo of Letby posing near a Christmas tree said: "Our Lucy in Festive Spirit... Bless her."
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But scrolling down the group's timeline, things become occasionally far more sordid. One member said: "I had a dream last night, Lucy used restraints on me & proceeded to abuse me, it was very pleasant." A member even warned others - due to the public nature of the group - that journalists could easily see what is being said. They wrote: "Watch out guys, there are people who work for the newspapers here...remember to be a [ghost emoji]."
However, in response, another said: "I would have no problem with my support being highlighted in the press... But of course that's not the case with other supporters." In response, someone said: "You would happily be outed as a member of the perverts group who supports a serial killer? I bet your family would be so proud." They then responded again with: "Lucy's parents can be proud of their beloved daughter. She is a good girl from a good home." Many in the group have voiced disdain for what it has become, with one member saying: "Leaving this vile group". But another responded with: "Aw don't go. I was just starting to love you."
The group started out as a general support page for Letby before devolving into a creepy fan page (Pervert$ Unite to Support Lucy Letby/Facebook)The Mirror has spoken to multiple experts on people who develop often sexual fascinations with criminals, particularly murderers. Tautvydas Sutkus, solicitor and counsellor-at-law, who works for Glow Bar London, said in such cases as Letby's a "unique societal phenomenon often unfolds".
"In my experience as a legal and relationship consultant, I've found that the emergence of fan groups for alleged criminals is not an anomaly but a reflection of a deep-seated psychological pattern. People are drawn to the abyss, the extreme outliers of human behaviour, because they represent the antithesis of social order, an order that, in its predictability, often fails to satisfy deeper, more complex emotional needs.
"These fan groups are more than mere collectives, they are microcosms where members can safely explore the 'whys' and 'hows' of actions that defy their moral compasses. It's a controlled descent into chaos. My clients who express a fascination with such figures are often searching for a break from the existential ennui that pervades their daily lives.
One member has bought a card to send Letby in prison (Pervert$ Unite to Support Lucy Letby/Facebook)"They find a strange solace in the discussion and dissection of these cases, akin to rubbernecking at a car crash. It's not the tragedy they seek. It's the jolt to their system, a reminder of their mortality, and a confrontation with the extremes of human capacity. However, this fascination can teeter on the brink of glorification, and that's where the danger lies. In these fan groups, the criminal is often dehumanised and transformed into an idea or an icon, disassociated from their alleged crimes. It is a psychological defence mechanism to deal with the horror. By idolising the person, one abstracts the actions."
Mr Sutkus went on to say: "As a professional, my role often shifts from an adviser to a mediator of reality, guiding clients to understand that the complexity of human psychology does not excuse the severity of the crimes. To those drawn to such groups, I often suggest channelling this interest into positive outcomes.
"Engage in criminology studies, support victim advocacy groups, or contribute to mental health awareness. This way, the fascination becomes a catalyst for constructive action, rather than a mere indulgence in the macabre. It's about finding the balance between curiosity and reverence for life's sanctity, ensuring that interest does not become complicity in the cultural elevation of criminality."
Some of the commenters express their sexual fantasies (Pervert$ Unite to Support Lucy Letby/Facebook)Barbara Santini, professional psychologist and relationship adviser, said such fascination is not actually about Letby herself at all. She said: "The phenomenon of social media fan groups rallying around figures like Lucy Letby, accused of heinous crimes, is not just about the individuals — it's about our psyche's intricate dance with the concept of infamy. These groups often consist of individuals seeking to understand the incomprehensible, to make sense of what drives a person to commit such acts.
"It is a manifestation of our innate curiosity about the abysses of the human mind. In my professional practice, I've observed that people's obsession with serial killers or notorious criminals can be linked to several psychological factors. One of them is the 'celebrity effect' of infamy, where the notoriety of a person's crimes elevates them to a perverse form of stardom. This can create a parasocial relationship where fans feel a personal connection to these individuals, despite the negative context.
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"Another aspect is the 'dark carnival', where the grotesque and horrific becomes a spectacle that people are drawn to out of a complex mix of fear, intrigue, and the relief of 'there but for the grace of God go I'. It's a psychological tightrope walk between the safety of being an observer and the thrill of brushing up against the danger without being at risk.
Members also post pictures of Letby in which they find her attractive (Pervert$ Unite to Support Lucy Letby/Facebook)"For those drawn into such obsessions, my advice is to seek understanding beyond the surface. This is often a subconscious attempt to exert control over the fear of chaos by closely examining those who embody it. When dealing with someone enthralled by such figures, it is crucial to provide a non-judgmental space for them to explore their thoughts and feelings. If the interest becomes all-consuming or begins to reflect in their personal values, it may be time to seek professional help to uncover and address any underlying issues."
Professor Craig Jackson, Professor of Occupational Health Psychology at Birmingham City University, said "reassuringly" the 'Pervert$' group only has a couple of hundred followers. He compared this to the manhunt for and death of Raoul Moat in July 2010, which led to a Facebook page 'Raoul Moat RIP You Legend', which had around 80,000 before being taken down. He said: "So, what we are seeing is nothing new in that respect, but social media allows cynical people, or those who are at least suspicious about the guilt or otherwise of high-profile offenders, to air their views - however unsavoury."
Prof Jackson added: "Although some questioning of Letby's convictions may be derived from a genuine good-faith interest in the security of the convictions and verdict, there is also the additional element of 'social bedevilment' about such social media sites supporting convicted murderers, viewing them as fallen heroes, and the notoriety gained from running such sites, and the enjoyment it gives some to upset relatives of victims and outrage the general public.
"This is simply digital trouble-making for the sake of enjoyment and offers little value in terms of making sure justice is upheld. This Facebook group will hopefully go the same way as the 'Raoul Moat RIP You Legend' Facebook page did - and will be taken offline - not least because it could prejudice any future trial of further crimes Letby may be accused of."
He went on to explain the general fascination with such figures, saying: "Over the last 15 years I have been researching the links between serial offenders who commit their crimes under the guise of their work, such as Letby and other healthcare murderers. I have certainly noticed a growth in the number of people fascinated by the 'True Crime' genre. Whenever I give public lectures about such topics, approximately 95% of the audiences are young women - with the complementary male audience members being partners who are 'dragged along' to accompany their other halves. The recent popularity of more TV documentaries, dramas inspired by true crimes , and now the growth in crime-focused podcasts is testament to this. There is little sign of this popularity declining just yet.
"There are some aspects about Letby that have no doubt created some public fascination with the case, and one of them being her job as a nurse and being female, which marks her out as relatively unusual - but not unique - among UK serial murderers. A stereotypical belief that women and nurses could never commit such crimes is what makes such offenders move towards those occupations - see Beverly Allit, Amelia Sach, Amelia Dyer or Annie Walters.
"That Letby's victims were defenceless children and that her actions went against the professional creed of her occupation as a nurse also gave her an additional level of public fascination. It does not end there though, as Letby's continued insistence of her innocence and the prosecution case being based mostly around circumstantial evidence, (rather than any overwhelming forensic evidence) has given fuel to those who believe Letby is innocent and the victim of a miscarriage of justice.
"The CSI-effect, where many laypeople expect that evidence of crimes will always be present and demonstrable, is at play here. Murder investigations can be just as complex as this one was, and the truth is that many serial murderers are aware enough not to leave incriminating forensic evidence linking them to their victims, and this is by no means unusual, but it provides some internet-sleuths with enough 'evidence' to cry foul, and to form a social media 'movement'."
The Mirror has contacted the 'Pervert$' group admin for comment. Facebook's parent company Meta did not respond to a request for comment.