Life in HMP Low Newton - the Durham prison where Lucy Letby will serve her sentence

'Evil' and 'sadistic' killer nurse Lucy Letby has been handed a whole life tariff, for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six more while working on the neonatal unit of Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016. 33-year-old Letby was dubbed a 'coward' by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for failing to take to the dock this afternoon, instead remaining in her cell while the families of victims read impact statements to Manchester Crown Court.

She becomes just the fourth female in the history of the UK to be given a whole life sentence - the maximum punishment that a judge can hand down to someone for their crimes across Great Britain. Mr Justice Goss would meanwhile tell Letby that her actions were of 'malevolence bordering on sadism' - citing how she showed 'no remorse' whatsoever.

Addressing the former nurse, he said: "You acted in a way that was completely contrary to the normal human instincts of nurturing and caring for babies and in gross breach of the trust that all citizens place in those who work in the medical and caring professions. The babies you harmed were born prematurely and some were at risk of not surviving but in each case you deliberately harmed them, intending to kill them."

Read more: The notorious killers of Durham's HMP Low Newton

Letby was being held at HMP New Hall in Wakefield while she was on trial, but she will now be sent to HMP Low Newton to spend the rest of her days. Here, Chronicle Live gives readers a look inside the notorious women and young offenders institute - explaining its category, history and some of the convicts who reside there following their horrific and unspeakable crimes.

What is HMP Low Newton?

HMP Low Newton is a Category A prison for adult females and young offenders, and is located in the village of Brasside, County Durham. Operated by His Majesty's Prison Service, it sits adjacent to HMP Frankland - another Category A facility, but for men.

Initially constructed in 2965, Low Newton was built as a mixed-remand centre for 65 males and 11 females. It received additional accommodation in 1975, with its capacity increasing to 215. It continued to hold both male and female prisoners until 1998, when a refurbishment commenced.

Since then, it has stood as an all-female prison, holding lifers and young offenders. Today, it serves in the catchment area from the Scottish Borders down to North Yorkshire - all the way across to North Cumbria.

It is also home to the Primrose Project - which is designed to treat women who have 'Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorders. It remains as the only women's prison across the UK to have such a unit. Around 340 prisoners currently reside at the prison, with accommodation coming in the form of single cells with personal or shared washing facilities.

There are also a number of three-person cells. It is reported that prisoners can decorate their own cells. There's a fashion boutique inside the prison itself, where prisoners are also able to buy clothes - like flip flops, shirts, and pants.

Notable prisoners at HMP Low Newton - past and present

Current -

Joanna Dennehy:

Joanna Dennehy was incarcerated for the Peterborough ditch murders of 2013 - stabbing three men and burying their bodies in a ditch. She also seriously injured two other men, but they survived. Her crimes led her to becoming the third woman ever to be handed a whole life sentence - with Dennehy seemingly having no motive other than killing for 'fun'.

Previous -

Sharon Carr:

One of Britain's youngest female murderers, Sharon Carr was incarcerated after she stabbed a stranger to death when she was just 12-years-old. She would stab Katie Rackliff, 18, more than 30 times in the unprovoked attack back in 1992, before bragging about it.

She would be housed in HMP Low Newton between 2018 and 2019, before being moved to HMP Bronzefield - another Category A prison, located in Ashford.

Tracey Connelly:

Tracey Connelly was jailed of causing or allowing the death of her 17-old-month son in 2007 - in a case known worldwide as that of Baby P. Connelly found herself locked up in Low Newton, until her release last year.

Rose West:

One of the UK's most prolific serial killers, Rose West was found guilty of ten horrific murders carried out alongside her husband, Fred. The two would imprison, sexually abuse and kill young girls over a two-decade timeframe - going as far as burying the bones under their home on Cromwell Street.

West was sentenced to a whole life order back in 1995, to be served at HMP Low Newton. However, she was moved to HMP New Hall in 2019 after the aforementioned Dennehy allegedly threatened to kill her.

Anne Darwin:

The wife of missing canoe man John Darwin who faked his own death in 2002, Anne was arrested and charged for helping her husband collect a fraudulent £250,000 life insurance claim. In 2008, Anne - who was described as a 'compulsive liar' by police - was sentenced to six years and six months to be served at HMP Low Newton.

Bernadette McNeily:

Bernadette McNeily was said to lead a gang who tortured and murdered 16-year-old Suzanne Capper in the 1990s. The victim was held captive, before being beaten, injected with drugs, and tortured brutally over a seven day span.

She was then driven to the woods of Stockport, before being doused in petrol and set on fire - but she survived long enough to name her attackers. McNeilly was handed a life sentence for murder in 1993, serving at HMP Low Newton, and released in 2015.