42 Facts About Harold Shipman

Harold Shipman is considered to be one of the most prolific serial killers in modern history, with an estimated 284 victims over roughly 30 years.

On 31 January 2000, Shipman was convicted of murdering 15 patients under his care.

Harold Shipman was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order.

On 13 January 2004, one day before his 58th birthday, Harold Shipman hanged himself in his cell at HM Prison Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

Harold Shipman's case has often been compared to that of doctor John Bodkin Adams; some nurses, such as Beverley Allitt and Lucy Letby, have been convicted of murdering patients in their care.

Harold Frederick Shipman was born on 14 January 1946 on the Bestwood Estate, a council estate in Nottingham, the second of three children.

Harold Shipman's father, Harold Frederick Shipman, was a lorry driver; his mother was Vera.

Harold Shipman was particularly close to his mother, who died of lung cancer when he was aged 17.

Harold Shipman's death came in a manner similar to what later became Shipman's own modus operandi: in the later stages of her disease, she had morphine administered at home by a doctor.

Harold Shipman witnessed his mother's pain subside, despite her terminal condition, until her death on 21 June 1963.

Harold Shipman studied medicine at Leeds School of Medicine, University of Leeds, graduating in 1970.

Harold Shipman began working at Pontefract General Infirmary in Pontefract, West Riding of Yorkshire, and in 1974 took his first position as a general practitioner at the Abraham Ormerod Medical Centre in Todmorden.

Harold Shipman worked as a GP at Donneybrook Medical Centre in Hyde, Greater Manchester, in 1977.

Harold Shipman continued working as a GP in Hyde throughout the 1980s and established his own surgery at 21 Market Street in 1993, becoming a respected member of the community.

Harold Shipman was the last person to see her alive; he later signed her death certificate, recording the cause of death as old age.

Harold Shipman claimed that Grundy had been an addict and showed them comments he had written to that effect in his computerised medical journal; however, police examination of his computer showed that the entries were written after her death.

Harold Shipman was arrested on 7 September 1998, and was found to own a Brother typewriter of the type used to make the forged will.

Prescription for Murder, a 2000 book by journalists Brian Whittle and Jean Ritchie, suggested that Harold Shipman forged the will either because he felt his life was out of control and wanted to be caught, or because he planned to retire at 55 and leave the UK.

The police investigated other deaths that Harold Shipman had certified and investigated 15 specimen cases.

In 2003, after Harold Shipman had been convicted, a paper by statistician David Spiegelhalter and others found that Harold Shipman's mortality rates had been broadly in line with national rates between 1988 and 1994, and started increasing in 1995.

Harold Shipman's trial began at Preston Crown Court on 5 October 1999.

Harold Shipman was charged with the murders of 15 women by lethal injections of diamorphine, all between 1995 and 1998:.

Harold Shipman became friends with fellow serial killer Peter Moore while in prison.

Harold Shipman denied his guilt, disputing the scientific evidence against him.

Harold Shipman never made any public statements about his actions.

Harold Shipman is the only doctor in the history of British medicine found guilty of murdering his patients.

John Bodkin Adams was charged in 1957 with murdering a patient, amid rumours he had killed dozens more over a 10-year period and "possibly provided the role model for Harold Shipman"; he was acquitted and no further charges were pursued.

Harold Shipman hanged himself in his cell at HM Prison Wakefield on 13 January 2004, the day before his 58th birthday.

Some victims' families said they felt "cheated", as Harold Shipman's suicide meant they would never have the satisfaction of a confession, nor answers as to why he committed his crimes.

Harold Shipman's death divided national newspapers, with the Daily Mirror branding him a "cold coward" and condemning the Prison Service for allowing his suicide to occur.

Primrose Harold Shipman received a full NHS pension that she would not have been entitled to if Harold Shipman had lived past the age of 60.

Harold Shipman refused to take part in courses which would have encouraged acknowledgement of his crimes, leading to a temporary removal of privileges, including the right to telephone his wife.

Harold Shipman's widow was advised by police against burying her husband in case the grave was attacked; the body was eventually cremated at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium, in the city, attended only by Shipman's widow and the couple's four children.

The Harold Shipman Inquiry recommended changes to the structure of the GMC.

In 2005, it came to light that Harold Shipman may have stolen jewellery from his victims.

In March 2005, when Primrose asked for its return, police wrote to the families of Harold Shipman's victims asking them to identify the jewellery.

In September 2009, letters Harold Shipman wrote in prison to friends were to be sold at auction, but following complaints from victims' relatives and the media, the sale was withdrawn.

Harold Shipman and Fred was a cartoon strip in a 2001 issue of Viz comic, featuring serial killer Fred West.

Some relatives of Harold Shipman's victims voiced anger at the cartoon.

The script of the play comprised edited verbatim extracts from the Harold Shipman Inquiry, spoken by actors playing the witnesses and lawyers at the inquiry.

Harold Shipman was mentioned in the 2022 Wakefield by-election when Conservative candidate Nadeem Ahmed highlighted his local connections, following Shipman's suicide in Wakefield prison, claiming that voters should "trust Tories like they do GPs after Harold Shipman".

In 2025, Harold Shipman was referenced in the third episode of series 3 of The Traitors, a reality television game show where "Faithful" contestants are tasked with finding and banishing the titular "Traitors".