Behind the Smile: The Shocking Crimes of Lorraine Thorpe

How a 15-year-old's Tragic Journey Turned into a Double Murder that Shocked England

Whenever we hear about children committing murder, most of us cannot comprehend the possibility. The idea that an innocent child could be capable of something so horrific does not compute. It shouldn’t even be a thing. The truth is harder to accept. Kids are capable of horrific acts. Lorraine Thorpe is one of those kids. Some people argue that she was manipulated, off her ADHD medication and had a hard time in life. While those are all true statements, Lorraine Thorpe had a choice.

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The Beginning

Lorraine Thorpe grew up in Clapgate Lane, Ipswich. After her parents split, she stayed with her dad. However, her father, Desmond (Des) Thorpe, was an alcoholic. He was a part of what locals called the “Street Drinkers” culture. Desmond Thorpe was homeless and oftentimes stayed at the flat of Rosalyn Hunt. Rosalyn, or Rosie as her friends called her, had also been part of the street drinker culture. This group would stay at her flat even without Rosie’s permission. Often times staying weeks.

Lorraine doted on her father and took care of him. That would often include bathing him. On his bad days she would be seen practically carrying him down the street. Social Services tried to intervene and moved her into temporary housing, but Lorraine voluntarily went back to the streets.

Living in the streets in Ipswich was where Lorraine met 41-year-old Paul Clark. Paul was an ex-serviceman who had a disadvantaged and troubled childhood. He would brag about his time in the Army. Because of his background in the military, Paul Clark ran the street drinkers’ group like he was the general. Some in this culture endured his leadership and stayed in this gang-like group.

Lorraine became obsessed with Paul Clark. He had become like a father figure to her. It was speculated in the news that they might have had a sexual relationship, however that was never confirmed. During the police interviews with Lorraine and Paul Clark, they denied the allegations that they had any type of relationship.

Lorraine started drinking as well as doing drugs. She stopped taking her ADHD medication. It had been reported that when Lorraine was not on her meds, her behavior became sporadic.

The Murders

In August of 2009, Rosalyn Hunt was found murdered after a worried friend called police to ask for a wellness check. She had been tortured. It was later discovered that she had been kicked, stomped, and punched. The torture included the use of a cheese grater and dog lead chains. There was evidence of salt in the wounds. Investigators discovered that the torture had occurred over several days.

Near Rosalyn Hunt’s flat, police also discovered the remains of Desmond Thorpe, the father of Lorraine Thorpe. He had been stomped on the head by a pair of trainers that belonged to his daughter. He had also been smothered by a cushion. It was speculated that Des was murdered to silence him, but that was not corroborated.

The Conviction

On August 10 2010, Lorraine Thorpe and Paul Clark were convicted of murder. Lorraine received life in prison with a minimum of 14 years and Paul Clark received life with a minimum of 27 years. It is possible that Lorraine minimum sentence was due to the fact she was just 15 years old at the time of the murders.

A young friend of Lorraine’s testified that they heard her confess to the murders and an inmate heard her confess to the murders on the anniversary of her father’s death. When Lorraine came up for parole, it was denied. The Justice had this to say.

She was responsible for protracted kicking, punching and stamping on Rosalyn, who was not fit to defend herself effectively from the outset. By the end of those attacks she was completely helpless. Far from being sorry, Lorraine appears to have gloried in it, describing to her friends at one stage how she stamped on Rosalyn's head [...] The only possible explanation for [Desmond Thorpe's] death can be the fear that he would go and tell the police what happened to Rosalyn Hunt [...] I don't accept that she was entirely under the control of Mr. Clark. She is someone who can be quite stubborn and willful and is capable of being highly manipulative herself [...] Her story is an appalling one." *

Stories like this prove that torture and murder can occur at any age—even at 15. These brutal and horrifying murders were committed by a child who bragged about it and an adult who should have known better.

Sources

*www.independent.co.uk “Youngest Female Double Murder Jailed. BBC News. 4 February 2024

True Crime Central. YouTube. Britain’s Youngest Female Double Murderer at 15–Lorraine Thorpe.