Lucy Letby allowed jail telly and choc binges as she grieves death of doctor 'boyfriend'

Lucy Letby allowed jail telly and choc binges as she grieves death of doctor 'boyfriend' The convicted former nurse is said to have been excused from prison classes and workshops while staff monitor her wellbeing following the death of former colleague and "love" Mark Deakin Killer nurse Lucy Letby has reportedly become increasingly reclusive in prison following the death of a doctor she once described as her “love”. The convicted serial baby murderer is said to have been allowed to miss prison classes and workshops while staff monitor her wellbeing at HMP Bronzefield. After the death of Consultant Mark Deakin, 53, who worked alongside Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital and the pair exchanged more than 1,300 Facebook messages over three months in 2016. He later gave evidence during her trial, where he was referred to as Doctor A after successfully applying for anonymity. His identity was revealed earlier this month after the order protecting his name was lifted at the Court of Appeal. Letby, 36, is now said to be spending increasing amounts of time alone in her cell, where she has been watching reality TV and comfort-eating. A source said: “It is pretty obvious Letby is devastated and the staff have been giving her the equivalent of compassionate leave. She has become more reclusive and spending hours in her cell. “She has been watching shows including Four in a Bed and Dinner Date and comfort-eating, with chocolate including Galaxy Ripples and Kinder Buenos her favourites. When officers come and call her for something, Letby often says ‘one more episode’ and stays in her cell on her own. The source told the Sun “Staff are taking it easy on her and have to monitor her state of mind as she is currently classed as vulnerable because of what’s happened. Although the doctor was not related to her, they are treating it like a bereavement. Staff are also doing things like removing newspapers from the wing, which might mention the story. "The only person Letby wants to mix with is Sara Sharif’s Mum Beinash Batool – she is leaning on her for support. They play chess and cards together for hours on end and there’s a view that it helps Letby take her mind off things.” Dr Deakin worked with Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2016 during the period in which she was later accused of attacking babies on its neonatal unit. During a dramatic moment of her trial, Letby broke down in tears and tried to leave court as the doctor confirmed his name while giving evidence from behind a screen after handwritten notes found at Letby's home referred to him as her "best friend" and "love." Prosecutors referred to the doctor as Letby’s “boyfriend” during the 10-month trial, which ended in August 2023 where they said Letby attacked babies to create “crisis situations” because she knew he would be called to attend. At the later Thirlwall Inquiry into the deaths of babies at the hospital, Dr Deakin said he had been “misled” and “maybe manipulated” by Letby. He later moved to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool where he was sacked over messages he and Letby had exchanged while they both worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital. He was later found unconscious in his car at a retail park the day after his dismissal and died nine days later. Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others between 2015 and 2016 and is serving a whole-life order. The former neonatal nurse, from Hereford, maintains her innocence and has twice failed in attempts to challenge her convictions. The Criminal Cases Review Commission is considering evidence submitted on her behalf which claims natural causes and poor care were responsible for the deaths and could refer her case back to the Court of Appeal.