Appropriate Adult

In February 1994 Janet Leach, a mother of five from Gloucestershire, was at home making her children’s tea when the phone rang. Janet was on an access course which when completed would enable her to train as a social worker. Janet was also on an approved list of ‘appropriate adults’, volunteers who can be asked by the police to sit in on interviews with minors or vulnerable adults in order to assist them and safeguard their rights.

With Janet no longer involved in the police interviews, Fred becomes uncooperative, but he seems to open up when she is asked to return. As the police continue to search his home and remote country locations for missing victims, Fred becomes preoccupied with one victim in particular - and Janet realises that she is physically similar to the missing woman. Later, Janet visits Fred in prison, hoping to persuade him to reveal more about his crimes. As she tries to convince Fred to tell the whole truth, she becomes gradually more closely involved with him - a development which proves to have shattering consequences for her.

The routine life of Gloucester woman Janet Leach is dramatically transformed when she asked by police to sit in as an 'appropriate adult' on interviews with serial killer Fred West who, within minutes, makes a shocking confession of murder. From that moment on she is drawn into the center of the investigation and a complex personal relationship with West.

With Janet Leach no longer involved in the police interviews, Fred West refuses to speak to the police. His wife Rosemary is similarly uncooperative, and Janet receives a call asking her to resume as West's appropriate adult. Fred West appears to be delighted and resumes co-operation with the police. But, once again, this co-operation is on his own terms.

The remains of Anna McFall are found, and Fred suggests to Janet her resemblance to Anna is highly significant to him. As Janet tries to persuade Fred to break with Rosemary and reveal the whole truth, she becomes ever more closely involved with him - an involvement which, ultimately, proves to have shattering consequences for her at the trial of Rosemary West.