List of serial killers in the United Kingdom

A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more people, with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. The British Centre for Crime and Justice Studies defines a serial killer when an individual has killed three or more people who were previously unknown to him or her, with a ‘cooling off’ period between each murder. This definition is accepted by both police and academic experts and therefore provides a useful frame of reference. https://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/publications/cjm/article/social-study-serial-killers

England NameYears activeProven victimsPossible victimsStatusNotesRefAkinmurele, Stephen1995–199888Committed suicide before trialKnown as "The Cul-de-sac killer"; a British-Nigerian man suspected of killing elderly people in Blackpool and the Isle of ManAllitt, Beverley199144Sentenced to life imprisonmentKnown as "The Angel of Death"; Lincolnshire paediatric nurse who killed children in her careBalls, Jonathan1824–18452222+Committed suicide prior to identificationPoisoned relatives and acquaintances with arsenic in HappisburghBellfield, Levi2002–200433+Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life orderKnown as "The Bus Stop Stalker"; convicted of the 2002 murder of Amanda Dowler and two fatal hammer attacks on young women in South West London.Bierton, Lawrence 1995–202333Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life orderKilled two elderly sisters in Rotherham in 1995. In 2023 he was convicted of a third murder he committed while released on licence.Bishop, John183033Executed in 1831Leader of "The London Burkers"; together with Thomas Williams and two accomplices, formed a gang of body snatchers that drugged and killed victims for moneyBourne, Geordie1590s–159777Executed in 1597Scottish bandit who killed seven people around the East English MarchesBrady, Ian1963–196555Died in prisonCommitted the so-called Moors murders with girlfriend Myra Hindley, killing five children and burying four of their bodies on Saddleworth MoorBritland, Mary Ann188633Executed in 1886Poisoned her daughter, husband, and the wife of her lover in 1886; first woman to be executed by hanging at Strangeways PrisonBrumfitt, Paul1979–199933Sentenced to life imprisonmentStrangled two men, one in Tilbury and another in Denmark, in 1979; sentenced to life, but released in 1994, and later killed a prostitute in Woodsetton in 1999.Bryan, Peter1993–200433Sentenced to life imprisonmentInstitutionalized for fatal hammer attack on woman in 1993; re-apprehended for cannibalizing a friend in 2004, but able to batter a fellow patient to death months laterBurgess, David1966–196733Sentenced to 27 years imprisonmentMurdered three young girls in Beenham; originally convicted of two murders, he was released in 1996, only to be convicted of the third murder in 2012 after new DNA evidence was found.Chapman, George1897–190233Executed in 1903Known as "The Borough Poisoner"; Polish-born barber who poisoned his wives in London's East EndChilds, John1974–197866Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life orderApparent contract killer who killed six people in East London, although none of the bodies were ever foundChristie, John1943–195388+Executed in 1953Known as "The Rillington Place Strangler"; gassed, raped and strangled at least five women from 1943 to 1953, hiding the bodies at his house in Notting Hill, London; also strangled his wife Ethel, as well as the wife and baby daughter of neighbour Timothy Evans, who was wrongfully executed for their murders.Chua, Victorino201137Sentenced to life imprisonmentNurse at Stepping Hill Hospital who poisoned patients with insulinCotton, Mary Ann1852–18722121+Executed in 1873Poisoned family members and acquaintances for their insurance policiesCream, Thomas Neill1881–189255+Executed in 1892Known as "The Lambeth Poisoner"; Scottish-Canadian doctor who poisoned women with strychnine in the United States and then EnglandCummins, Gordon1941–194246Executed in 1942Known as "The Blackout Ripper"; RAF pilot who murdered four women in London during the wartime blackout in 1942, and suspect in two previous murders from 1941Dawson, Andrew1981–201033Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order"The Angel of Mercy"; stabbed three men to death with no provocationDuffy, John1985–198633Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life orderTogether with accomplice David Mulcahy, known as "The Railway Rapists"; killed three women near railway stations in Southern EnglandDyer, Amelia1869–18966400+Executed in 1896Known as "The Ogress of Reading"; baby farmer who murdered infants in her careErskine, Kenneth1986711Sentenced to life imprisonmentKnown as "The Stockwell Strangler"; gerontophile who murdered elderly citizens in LondonGrieveson, Steven1990–199444+Sentenced to life imprisonmentKnown as "The Sunderland Strangler"; murdered four teenage boys in SunderlandGriffiths, Stephen2009–201033+Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life orderKnown as "The Crossbow Cannibal"; convicted of murdering three prostitutes in BradfordHaigh, John1944–194969Executed in 1949Known as "The Acid Bath Murderer"; murdered people for money and then dissolved their bodies in sulphuric acidHardy, Anthony2000–200238+Died in prisonKnown as "The Camden Ripper"; abducted, murdered and dismembered women across LondonHardy, Trevor1974–197633Died in prisonKnown as "The Beast of Manchester"; killed three teenage girls in ManchesterHerbert, Philip1678–168033Died a free manNobleman known for assaulting and sometimes killing fellow peers for no discernible reason; although he faced lesser charges, research indicates that he was responsible for all the murders attributed to himHindley, Myra1963–196555Died in prisonCommitted the so-called Moors murders with boyfriend Ian Brady, killing five children and burying four of their bodies on Saddleworth MoorIreland, Colin199355Died in prisonKnown as "The Gay Slayer"; killed five gay men in London to seek attention from the mediaJebson, Ronald1970–197433Died in prisonPaedophile responsible for the 1970 Babes in the Wood murders and the murder of another childJohnson, Theodore1981–201633Sentenced to 30 years imprisonmentJamaican immigrant who murdered his wife and two girlfriendsLee, Bruce George Peter1973–19791226Sentenced to involuntary commitmentArsonist responsible for multiple deaths during acts of arson in Kingston upon Hull; some convictions have been quashed (Library card access)Letby, Lucy2015–201677+Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life orderNHS nurse convicted of killing 7 babies and attempting to kill 6 others whilst working as a neonatal nurse at Countess of Chester Hospital Ligus, Robin1994–199634Died in prisonDrug addict convicted of robbing and bludgeoning three men to death with an iron bar in ShropshireLupo, Michael1985–198644Died in prisonKnown as "The Wolf Man"; Italian immigrant who killed fellow gay men in LondonMackay, Patrick1974–1975311Sentenced to life imprisonmentThrill killer who killed people during thefts and robberiesMartin, Mark2004–200533Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life orderKnown as "The Sneinton Strangler"; murdered homeless women in Nottingham with two accomplices to become famousMaudsley, Robert1974–197844Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life orderKilled a man in London, and later two cellmates in prison and one fellow patient in Broadmoor HospitalMorris, Raymond Leslie1965–196733Died in prisonRaped and murdered prepubescent girls and left their corpses on Cannock Chase.Mulcahy, David1985–198633Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice John Duffy, known as "The Railway Rapists"; killed three women near railway stations in Southern EnglandNapper, Robert1992–199333Sentenced to involuntary commitmentKnown as "The Green Chain Rapist"; raped, murdered and mutilated women and childrenNeilson, Donald1971–197544Died in prisonKnown as "The Black Panther"; killed post office clerks and heiress Lesley WhittleNilsen, Dennis1978–19831215Died in prisonKnown as "The Muswell Hill Murderer"; lured and murdered young men at his flat in London, ritually dissecting their bodies post-mortemNorris, Colin2002410Sentenced to life imprisonmentScottish nurse who poisoned elderly patients he considered "difficult" at a hospital in LeedsPort, Stephen2014–201544Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life orderKnown as "The Grindr Killer"; serial rapist who drugged, sexually assaulted and murdered men in Barking, London that he met on dating appsRobinson, Maxine1989-199333Sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 10 years. Increased by 3 years in 2004Murdered her three children over a span of 4 years claiming their deaths had been natural, until she confessed to smothering them in their sleep.Sach, Amelia1900–19022020+Executed in 1903Together with accomplice Annie Walters, known as "The Finchley Baby Farmers"; murdered infants placed in their careShipman, Harold1975–1998218250+Committed suicide in prisonKnown as "Dr Death"; general practitioner who murdered patients placed in his care; only British doctor to be convicted of such charges. Convicted of 15 murders and responsible for the deaths of 218 patients identified by inquiry, but is believed to have killed around 250 people.Smith, George Joseph1912–191433Executed in 1915Bigamist who murdered three women by drowning them in his bath in what became known as the "Brides in the Bath Murders"Smith, Rebecca1830s–184988Executed in 1849Poisoned eight of her newborn children; last British woman to be executed for infanticide of her own childStraffen, John1951–195233Died in prisonMurdered a young girl to get revenge on police; confined to mental hospital, escaped and killed two othersSutcliffe, Peter1975–19801314+Died in prisonKnown as "The Yorkshire Ripper"; murdered women around West Yorkshire and Manchester; the manhunt for him was one of the most extensive and expensive in British historyWalters, Annie1900–19022020+Executed in 1903Together with accomplice Amelia Sach, known as "The Finchley Baby Farmers"; murdered infants placed in their careWest, Fred1967–19871213+Committed suicide before trialTogether with his wife Rose, known as "The House of Horrors Murderers"; tortured and murdered teenage girls and young women around Gloucestershire; Fred committed some separate killings on his ownWest, Rose1971–19871010Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life orderTogether with her husband Fred, known as "The House of Horrors Murderers"; tortured and murdered teenage girls and young women around GloucestershireWilliams, Thomas183033Executed in 1831Member of "The London Burkers"; together with John Bishop and two accomplices, formed a gang of body snatchers that drugged and killed victims for moneyWright, Steven1999–200666+Sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life orderKnown as "The Suffolk Strangler"; killed five women in six weeks around Ipswich, later linked to an earlier murder in FelixstoweYoung, Graham1962–197133+Died in prisonKnown as "The Teacup Poisoner"; poisoned school friends and family at age fourteen in 1961, killing his stepmother in 1962. Detained at Broadmoor Hospital. Released in 1971, he began poisoning coworkers, murdering two. His case sparked debate on the treatment of mentally-ill offenders, leading to legislation being passed

Northern Ireland NameYears activeProven victimsPossible victimsStatusNotesRefShankill Butchers1975–19822323+VariousUlster loyalist gang who murdered people in sectarian attacksMurphy, Lenny1972–198211 (not including Shankill Butchers murders)34+ (including Shankill Butchers murders)Shot dead by Provisional IRA gunmen on 16 November 1982Leader of the Loyalist Shankill Butchers death squad. He killed as part of the gang but also on his own prior to its establishmentDillon, Martin (1989). The Shankill Butchers.

Scotland