Upon moving into a rented room at 25 Cromwell Street in November 1977, teenager Kathleen Richards sensed something was wrong with her landlord, serial killer Fred West. In her recent book recounting her time in the notorious house with Fred and Rose West, she recalled an unsettling discovery. Noticing a row of precisely drilled holes along the bedroom wall as she unpacked her belongings, Kathleen whispered to her sister Deirdre about their resemblance to spyholes.
During their initial encounter with Fred and Rose West, Kathleen and Deirdre were introduced to a young woman whom Fred labeled his “lover” in addition to his wife, Rose. Speculating on Fred’s motives, Deirdre suggested he might be a “dirty old man” with both a wife and a lover in the same room. Despite initial doubts about the situation with the young woman, Shirley Robinson, Kathleen couldn’t believe she was part of a relationship with the Wests.
Escaping an abusive environment in Ireland, Kathleen found old newspapers under the carpet in their room and used them to block the spyholes. However, her efforts were undone the next morning when the newspapers were pushed out of the holes. As Fred’s unwanted advances escalated, he would corner Kathleen, boasting about his inappropriate intentions towards her.
Rose West also attempted to seduce Kathleen, inviting her into the living room wearing only a transparent nightie. Shirley, a key ally to Kathleen, intervened whenever Fred crossed boundaries with Kathleen. Despite Shirley’s protective actions, there was a complex dynamic involving her complicity in Rose’s attempts to seduce Kathleen.
Shirley, who mysteriously vanished shortly before giving birth, met a tragic fate at the hands of the Wests. Fred’s focus intensified on Kathleen after Shirley’s disappearance, with disturbing incidents of intrusion into her room and sexual advances. Kathleen managed to escape a dangerous situation by pretending to agree to watch a video with Fred and Rose, only to flee when the opportunity arose.
Following the harrowing experiences at Cromwell Street, Kathleen and Deirdre made plans to leave the house. Years later, news of a murder investigation in Gloucester involving the same address shocked Kathleen. Recalling the moment she learned of the investigation, Kathleen expressed her disbelief and shared a poignant phone call with her sister.
For support related to similar experiences, individuals can contact Victim Support for confidential advice. Kathleen Richards’ book, “Under Their Roof,” co-authored by Ann Cusack, offers further insights into her ordeal at Cromwell Street.