Lucy Letby allowed to comfort-eat chocolate and binge-watch reality TV in jail after death of doctor ‘boyfriend’

JAILED baby-killer Lucy Letby has been allowed to comfort eat and binge-watching reality shows including Four in a Bed – as she grieves for a doctor she was infatuated with. Letby, 36, has become “reclusive” since the death of consultant Mark Deakin, 53, and been allowed to skip prison classes and workshops due to her heartbreak. Lucy Letby has been allowed to comfort eat and binge-watching reality shows – as she grieves for a doctor she was infatuated with Credit: PA Letby has become ‘reclusive’ since the death of consultant Dr Mark Deakin Credit: Youtube 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. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! “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. “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. Most read in The Sun “They play chess and cards together for hours on end and there’s a view that it helps Letby take her mind off things.” The Sun on Sunday revealed last month that the married doctor – who gave evidence against Letby at her trial – had died. The Dad of two applied for anonymity and was referred to as Doctor A during the case. But he was named after an order protecting his identity was lifted earlier this month at the Appeal Court. Dr Deakin worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2016 at the time of her arrest for the murders of babies on its neonatal unit Credit: AFP Letby called Deakin her ‘best friend’ Credit: SWNS Dr Deakin worked with Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2016 at the time of her arrest for the murders of babies on its neonatal unit. Letby called him her “best friend” and “love” in hand-written notes found at her home, and the pair swapped more than 1,300 Facebook messages over three months in 2016. In one of the most dramatic scenes of the trial, Letby broke down in tears and tried to leave the court as the medic confirmed his name from behind a screen. During the 10-month trial, which ended in August 2023, Prosecutors called the doctor Letby’s “boyfriend”. They said she attacked babies to create “crisis situations” knowing he would dash to attend. At the later Thirlwall Inquiry into baby deaths in 2024, the registrar later said he had been “misled” and “maybe manipulated” by Letby. Doctor Deakin had moved on to work at Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool before his death. But he was sacked over messages he and Letby had exchanged when they both worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital. He was found slumped in his car at a retail park the day after his dismissal and died nine days later. Letby was convicted of seven murders and seven attempted killings from 2015-2016 and is serving a whole-life order at HMP Bronzefield, Surrey. Letby, of Hereford, maintains her innocence but has lost two bids to challenge her convictions. The Criminal Cases Review Commission is considering evidence claiming natural causes and poor care caused deaths and could order a retrial. A spokesperson for Sodexo, which runs Bronzefield, said it could not comment on individuals.