One can only imagine that in prison there is an ample amount of time to pursue (legal) hobbies. For 64-year-old Rose West, an inmate at HM Prison Low Newton in England, that hobby is baking.
In 1995, Rose was convicted of ten murders, including her 16 year-old stepdaughter, Heather, who she buried under her patio. She is currently serving a life sentence. West's husband, Fred -- an accomplice in the crime -- was accused of 12 murders himself. He committed suicide while awaiting trial.
West recently whipped up some Victoria Sponge Cake for a spontaneous bake-off, which was a hit with judges (fellow inmates).
Since West’s crimes were so violent, other inmates tend to treat her with a certain degree of hostility. To soften her image, According to prison sources, West “tends to defuse [aggressive] situations by offering other prisoners cakes and biscuits.”
Whether the sponge cake was actually yummy or not, it warranted West to be named winner of the bake-off.
The prison announced back in April that they would be holding events like bake-offs, movie nights, and "Cleanest Cell" contests to “improve relationships between inmates.”
And for those of you who are curious, West is allowed to use knives and other kitchen tools, as long as she’s being properly supervised.