Serial killer Levi Bellfield suffers allergic response to face cream in jail – earlier than claiming it was attributable to a Bounty bar ‘to maintain his arduous man picture’

Serial killer Levi Bellfield has reportedly received treatment in prison hospital for a ‘severe’ allergic reaction to face cream – but claimed it was caused by a Bounty bar to maintain his ‘hard man image’.

The depraved murderer, 57, whose victims include 13-year-old Milly Dowler, is currently serving a life sentence in HMP Frankland in County Durham.

Bellfield was rushed to the prison’s hospital after having a ‘severe reaction’ to a coconut face moisturiser which made him ‘struggle for breath’ and ‘itch all over’, sources told The Sun.

The source said it was so ‘serious’ that guards called a Code Blue, which is used when ‘something severe happens like an attack’.

After being given antihistamines, it is claimed he told fellow prisoners the reaction was caused by the coconut in a Bounty chocolate bar, instead of admitting it was actually a beauty product that landed him in hospital.

The source added: ‘Everyone thought it was funny that a supposed tough guy like him was struck down so severely.

‘A few staff and inmates said it was a shame it wasn’t more serious.’

The Ministry of Justice did not provide a comment when approached by the Mail. 

Bellfield is serving whole-life sentences for the murders of Milly Dowler, 13, Marsha McDonnell, 19, and Amélie Delagrange, 22, as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy when she was 18.

He was convicted of the murders of Ms McDonnell and Ms Delagrange, as well as the attempted murder of Ms Sheedy in 2008.

The former bouncer was then found guilty in 2011 of kidnapping and murdering Milly Dowler in 2002.

Serial killer Levi Bellfield (pictured), 57, is currently serving a life sentence in HMP Frankland in County Durham

Bellfield is serving a whole-life sentence for the murder of 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler (pictured)

Bellfield is also serving whole-life sentences for the murders of Marsha McDonnell (left) and Amélie Delagrange (right). He was convicted in 2008

The 57-year-old is in HMP Frankland (pictured) – nicknamed Monster Mansion. As a so-called enhanced prisoner, Bellfield can have a cooked breakfast every Saturday

As a so-called enhanced prisoner, Bellfield can have a cooked breakfast every Saturday.

A Muslim convert who now uses the name Yusuf Rahim, Bellfield can select halal options, including sausages made from chicken or lamb rather than pork.

He is also permitted £33 a week to spend in the canteen whereas standard prisoners have £19.80. The standard canteen sells Mars Bars for 90p and Coca-Cola for £1.

Bellfield has access to Xbox computer games, a prison source said. Inmates are not permitted violent gameplay, but often play sport titles such as FIFA.

‘They don’t call it Monster Mansion for nothing; we are used to the worst of the worst here,’ the source at the category A jail added.

‘Bellfield isn’t a problem on the unit, but it just doesn’t feel quite right that a man in for his crimes should be playing Xbox computer games.

Those on a whole-life order should get the bare minimum, but unfortunately as officers our hands are tied.’

Notorious prisoners at HMP Frankland, in County Durham, include former firearms officer Wayne Couzens, serving a whole-life order, with no chance of parole, for the murder of Sarah Everard.

Soham child killer Ian Huntley, Grindr murderer Stephen Port and morgue monster David Fuller are also understood to be at the jail.

Hashem Abedi, brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman, was moved out after stabbing and scalding three officers last April.