Milly Dowler’s killer Levi Bellfield hits out at cops in letter

THE convicted killer of Milly Dowler has accused cops of showing no regard for the British teenager’s family after they released details of the brutal rape and murder.

Undated Metropolitan Police handout photo of 39-year-old Levi Bellfield who was found guilty at the Old Bailey yesterday of the murder of two young women. Bus stop killer Levi Bellfield, the prime suspect in the Milly Dowler murder, is facing three life sentences today. Picture: PA

THE convicted killer of British schoolgirl Milly Dowler has had the nerve to accuse cops of showing no regard for her family.

The serial killer, Levi Bellfield, has written a letter slamming police for announcing he had finally confessed to murdering Milly.

And in an astonishing outburst — painstakingly scrawled in bold capitals — he said officers had given “no thought” to the 13-year-old’s loved ones.

He cravenly claimed to be “surprised and disappointed” by the actions of Surrey Police and branded their announcement “appalling information”.

He even bleated about the effect it had on his own family, who he lamented as “innocent parties caught in the crossfire”.

Bellfield’s letter, in black ballpoint on a single sheet of paper from Durham’s Frankland jail in northeast England, can be revealed two days after his lawyers made a complaint to the force.

His legal team claim a “covert tape” was used to record the monster talking to cops at the prison — a breach of strict interview procedures.

Levi Bellfield letter. Picture: The Sun

News of that complaint sparked fury — as his written letter triggered a storm too.

The police chief who led the investigation that nailed former parking attendant Bellfield accused him of “sickening mock sympathy” and said his letter was “typical of his character in every ugly detail”.

And a handwriting expert who analysed it concluded it was the work of a self-obsessed loner who lived in a fantasy world but was capable of being “callous, cruel and ruthless”.

Bellfield, 47, had asked to speak to officers from Surrey early last year, claiming he finally wanted to tell them the truth about Milly’s last hours.

In a grim show of control, he told police he would only be quizzed by two female cops.

Only when that wish was granted did he admit raping Milly in broad daylight after driving her to his mother’s home near Walton-on-Thames.

He said he held the girl captive for 14 hours, repeatedly raping and torturing her before strangling her and burying her body in a shallow grave.

A fortnight ago Surrey Police released a statement disclosing Bellfield had confessed for the first time to Milly’s murder, rape and abduction.

Milly’s parents, Bob and Sally, and sister Gemma decided to reveal the shocking details to show the public Bellfield’s “true heinousness”.

Yet unknown to them Bellfield was determined to have the last word.

In his letter, written two days before the Dowlers spoke out, Bellfield insisted he never confessed to Milly’s murder at all.

Bellfield, who has converted to Islam behind bars, signed the letter in his Muslim name Yusuf Rahim and noted his prison number at the top.

Referring to the cops’ statement, he wrote: “On 27th January when Surrey Police broke the story I was surprised and disappointed. Indeed I have not spoken with the police for some time.”

Bellfield then refers to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, which governs how interviews are carried out. Any confession not accurately recorded can be ruled “unreliable”, though because Bellfield has already been convicted of Milly’s murder it makes little difference.

He adds: “As you may be aware interviews are conducted under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) under caution.

“Reference ‘so called’ admissions, under PACE I have made no admissions to murder. This is fact.”

The former nightclub bouncer went on: “It is with deep regret that Surrey Police can release such appalling information so publicly with no thought to the victims’ families, and my family who are innocent parties caught in the crossfire.”

And in a nod to his Muslim faith, he concludes: “Reference my Muslim status, this is between me and the almighty Allah (Subbahana Wata Ala), Inshallah, may be one day, you will find this beautiful faith.”

Bellfield’s letter is the first to emerge since 2011, when he denied murdering Milly and claimed he was the victim of a witch-hunt. He refused to comment in police interviews and did not give evidence at the Old Bailey when he was convicted of murder and kidnap.

As a category An inmate, one of only 55 “whole life” prisoners in the UK, all of the mail Bellfield sends and receives is routinely read by prison chiefs.

They have the power to stop letters which are believed to be a threat to security, appear to be coded or could cause distress or anxiety to recipients.

Levi Bellfield was found guilty of killing teen Milly Dowler and has now revealed the details of the brutal murder. Picture: PA

Bellfield’s complaint to Surrey Police was made only after the Dowlers had gone public.

He had made no complaint when the force first claimed he had admitted the crimes. The complaint, together with his letter, hints Bellfield had meticulously planned the confession in an attempt to taunt police once again.

His lawyer Julie Cooper, who had spoken to him by videolink in prison, told cops he “continues to deny involvement in the murder of Amanda Dowler”.

She added: “We request the tape recording of the alleged confession; the attendance notes relating to the alleged confession; the circumstances surrounding the alleged confession and we would be grateful if you would confirm or deny whether a covert tape was being used.” It was not clear last night how Bellfield is funding his lawyer’s fees.

Surrey Police insisted Ms Cooper’s letter was not a complaint, but the force will now have to pour taxpayer-funded resources into dealing with it.

Colin Sutton, the retired Metropolitan Police top cop who put Bellfield behind bars, said: “He is playing games again, with the police and with the family. It’s beyond even what I have come to expect of him.

“He tried to blame police for letting down Milly’s and his own families but he only pretends to care because it helps his suggestion they are inventing it all.”

Handwriting expert Erik Rees, ex-chairman of the Institute of Graphologists, examined Bellfield’s letter without having any idea of his identity.

Mr Rees said the writer was “empty”, aloof and arrogant but could be overwhelmed by emotions sometimes that “need to be satisfied at all costs”.

He could be “provoked at a moment’s notice” and the actions of others could “ignite anger or a need for vengeance”.

Bellfield is also serving life terms for the murders of Marsha McDonnell, 19, and Amelie Delagrange, 22.

He has been linked with up to 20 unsolved attacks, including rape and murders dating back to 1980.

A Surrey Police spokesman said: “We have received a letter which does not contain a complaint.

“It will be considered in the same way as any other piece of correspondence.”