Brian Darby jailed for murder fantasies and indecent images

Darby was sacked as a PC at Leicestershire Police in the 1970s when he was convicted of indecently assaulting boys, the court heard.

In 2001, he admitted attempted murder and was convicted at trial of conspiracy to murder alongside his girlfriend Jeanette White.

The Old Bailey heard White was “under the spell” of Darby as they exchanged around 450 pages of letters about serial killing, rape, cannibalism, and necrophilia.

By 2000, the fantasies had been turned into reality as the couple plotted to murder a woman and her children in their home in Westminster, while Darby answered adverts from women looking for a room to let so that he could stalk them.

A 45-year-old mother narrowly escaped death when Darby called at her home in Ealing, west London, posing as a BBC researcher.

He placed a wire noose around her neck intending to rape and kill her, but she managed to escape into the street, Darby’s 2002 sentencing hearing was told.