Investigation launched into how a serial child rapist was able to pen a prison cell letter to one of his victims

How a serial child rapist was able to pen a prison cell letter to one of his victims is the subject of a major investigation.

The Ministry of Justice promised the probe after the sickening letter landed on the doormat of one of twisted Darren Myhill’s victims.

Serial child rapist Darren Myhill pictured above

Today, the teenage girl’s mother said she was horrified the sex beast was able to send the letter, which left her traumatised daughter in floods of tears and frightened to leave the house.

Myhill was jailed for a string of child rapes and sex offences that took place over more than two decades.

The serial offender, of Throckley, Newcastle, admitted 22 charges of rape, indecency with a child, indecent assault and incitement against FIVE victims between nine and 16.

He even kept a scrapbook of photos of his victims and a checklist of the acts he had carried out.

He was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years, of which just six would be served in jail with the rest on licence.

But the court of appeal found the 45-year-old’s punishment to be “unduly lenient” and quashed the original sentence and handed him a sentence of indefinite imprisonment for public protection.

It means he cannot be considered for release for 10 years.

After the ruling, his victim told how she hoped she could now get on with her life but then the letter arrived.

“It came totally out of the blue,” said her mother.

“She rang me screaming and crying her eyes out. I was away at the time and so had to come back as fast as I could to be with her.

“How can this be allowed to happen? She is trying to get on with her life, but now my girl is back to square one again. She still can’t escape him if he is allowed to write to her like this.”

In the letter not only does Myhill, now in Holme House Prison, Stockton, claim to love the girl, but also accuses her of lying.

He adds: “I could have killed myself, but that would have been the coward’s way out.”

Then he chillingly makes references to places he knows she has been in recent weeks.

The MoJ spokeswoman said prisoner’s phone and letters are subject to “robust” monitoring and there are arrangements to restrict communication with victims.

However, she said prisoners sometimes smuggled out letters.

A full investigation will now be carried out.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “Our priority is protecting the public. There are very strict rules governing correspondence and contact between offenders and their victim.”

For full conviction profile for Darren Myhill click this link