WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate & Diploma Criminology sample

UNIT 2 CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES Social learning theory In addition, the social learning theory as put forward by Bandura would suggest that Napper has learned from those around him. In particular, he witnessed his father’s violence towards his mother. In later life he inflicted brutal violence on women in both rapes and murders. In addition, aged 12, Napper was raped in the woods near his home. This was echoed by his crimes in later life. CASE STUDY FRED WEST Fred West, from Gloucestershire, was thought to have committed at least 12 murders of young females, many with his wife Rose, between 1967 and 1987. The murders involved both Fred and Rose’s sexual gratification and included rape, bondage and torture. There was also dismemberment of bodies, with some being buried under the patio area of their home. This included Heather West, their daughter, whose body was found with the head severed from the body and bones chopped up to reduce the space in which the skeleton could be buried. Eventually, the pair were arrested and charged with the murders. However, Fred hung himself in prison before trial. Rose was convicted of ten counts of murder by a jury in November 1995 and was sentenced to ten mandatory life sentences with a whole-life tariff . There are rumours that Fred was introduced to sex by his mother from a young age and allegedly engaged in acts of bestiality with animals in his early teens. When Fred was 17 years old he had a motorcycle accident, from which he received serious head injuries, which left him in a coma. A metal plate was inserted into his head, which may have affected his behaviour and left him with an inability to control impulses. Whole-life tariff: An order that having been convicted of murder the defendant must serve all of it in prison and not be allowed parole. Key term The story of Fred and Rose West can be read in the book by Howard Sounes called Fred & Rose . Research murderers who have been given a whole- life tariff. Discover their names and the names of their victims. Take it further 110