Shivangi Sinha
In the wake of Fred and Rose West’s arrest, intense focus shifted to their children, particularly their eldest son, Stephen West. Although he had already moved out of the family home, he frequently communicated with his father during the latter’s time in custody and Fred reportedly revealed many secrets that were shared only between him and Rose. Stephen quickly became a central figure in media coverage, with the public eager to understand the life he had lived at 25 Cromwell Street. His experiences are explored in depth in Netflix’s ‘Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story,’ where the timeline of events and his role within them are carefully examined.
Stephen West Spoke to His Father Many Times After the Latter’s Arrest
Stephen West, the third child of Fred and Rose West, was born in 1973. He was especially close to his older sisters, Heather and Mae, and the three of them spent their early years together in the notorious family home at 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester, UK. Reports suggest that Stephen ran away from home at a young age but eventually returned after a few weeks. In later accounts, he described enduring physical abuse and witnessing the horrific mistreatment his sisters faced. The siblings had made a pact to protect one another, vowing never to leave each other alone in a room with their parents. It was a bond that helped Stephen survive much of his traumatic childhood. He alleged that his father told him that he would have to have intimate relationships with his mother when he turned 17.
During these conversations, police records indicate that Fred shared several disturbing details about the murders with Stephen. One of the most harrowing revelations was that Stephen had unknowingly helped his father dig one of the graves where his sister Heather and other victims were later found. At the time, his father had framed the digging as a father-son bonding activity. Stephen later recalled, “That’s where the girls were found, in the exact holes.” Much of what came to light about life inside the West household was revealed through these exchanges. In January 1995, Stephen and his sister Mae co-authored a book titled ‘Inside 25 Cromwell Street: The Terrifying, True Story of Life with Fred and Rose West,’ offering their firsthand account of the horrors they endured.
Stephen West is Raising Two Kids Today
Stephen West gave a handful of interviews following the arrest and conviction of his parents, Fred and Rose West, but as public interest in the case faded, he chose to lead a more private life. One of his statements, “There’s a bit of my dad in me,” garnered significant public attention. It offered a rare insight into the emotional and psychological turmoil he faced. In 2002, troubling reports surfaced that Stephen had tried to take his own life by hanging.
Just two years later, in 2004, he was arrested and sentenced to nine months in prison for having sexual relations with an underage girl. According to the most recent reports, Stephen is now 52 years old and still resides in the Gloucester area of the UK. He is married, has two children, and remains estranged from his mother, Rose West. He has kept his life largely out of the spotlight, and while little is known about his current circumstances, one can only hope he has found a measure of peace after all he has endured.
Read More: Charmaine West: How Did Rose West Kill Her Stepdaughter?
