Mother-of-one Anna Curtis has found love again after six years - in a murderer on death row.
The 47-year-old from Mitcham, London, sends kinky letters to prisoner William Speer, 39, who was imprisoned in 1991 after shooting and killing a man.
Mr Speer was given a life sentence, but found himself on death row in the Allan B. Polunsky Unit in Texas after he was convicted of strangling an inmate in 1997.
Love letters: Anna Curtis, 47, from Mitcham, London, sends kinky letters to prisoner William Speer, 39, who was imprisoned in 1991 after shooting and killing a man
Ms Curtis has also exchanged two letters a fellow inmate of Mr Speer's - the Cross Country Killer Tommy Lynn Sells - who claimed responsibility for the brutal murder of more than 70 men, women and children.
The bizarre affair began in January after an organization which puts pen-pals in touch with criminals on death row passed on Mr Speer's details.
Ms Curtis admits she Googled Mr Speer before putting pen to paper.
'I wasn't bothered about what he'd done in the past; I just wanted to put a face to a name,' she said.
'With some people, you can see the evil in their eyes, but just from looking at his photo on the internet, I knew he wasn't like that.'
'I didn't start writing to Will with the intention of falling in love, it just happened'
Since then Ms Curtis has exchanged hundreds of letters with the six-foot-nine-inch lag, who she calls her 'gentle giant'.
She says they have even discussed marriage, and she is planning on visiting him next year.
Ms Curtis, who has never been abroad and has just applied for her first passport, said: 'He hasn't popped the question yet, but it could be on the cards.'
The subject came about when Ms Curtis sent Mr Speer a letter with a suggestive tone.
Murderer on death row: Mr Speer was given a life sentence, but found himself on death row in the Allan B. Polunsky Unit in Texas after he was convicted of strangling an inmate in 1997
'When you're exchanging letters with prisoners in America, if you put the stamp on the envelope in a certain position, it means something.
'So I put the stamp to the side, thinking it meant "hugs and kisses", but actually it meant "marry me,"' she explained.
'We laughed about it afterwards, but I knew he was interested because we began talking about how we'd tie the knot when I visit.'
Ms Curtis admits she is smitten.
'No-one's ever asked to marry me before, and it's something I've always dreamed of doing since I was a little girl.
'If he did ask, I'd definitely accept because I'd want him to know that I'd be there for him no matter what.'
But for now, Ms Curtis is content to exchange sweet nothings with her love.
'He's a massive flirt. When he writes to me he calls me his peach, and I get butterflies in my stomach,' she said.
Enamored: The bizarre affair began in January after an organization which puts pen-pals in touch with criminals on death row passed on Mr Speer's details
But despite Mr Speer's flirtations, he has never been with a woman before.
'He was 16 when he went to prison so it's no wonder,' said Ms Curtis. 'He says he gets horny reading my letters, and I'm not surprised, being inside and away from women all that time.'
Ms Curtis began dedicating so much time to writing to Mr Speer, that eventually her cousin cottoned on she was seeing someone.
'She said I've got heart,' said Ms Curtis, 'because not a lot of people would bother writing to prisoners.
'Some people do find our relationship hard to understand. But I didn't start writing to Will with the intention of falling in love, it just happened.'
But she is under no illusions that the visit will be a walk in the park.
'I know it will be hard. I won't even be able to kiss him because there will be no body contact and he will be behind a glass partition.'
Mr Speer isn't allowed to make phone calls, so Ms Curtis contents herself waiting for his letters.
'It's exciting waiting for a letter to drop onto the door mat.
Devoted: Ms Curtis has exchanged hundreds of letters with the six-foot-nine-inch prisoner, who she calls her 'gentle giant'
Commitment: Ms Curtis says the pair have even discussed marriage, and she is planning on visiting him in the Texas prison next year
'I look forward to telling Will what I've been up to; he's the first person I'll go to. He's interested in knowing what we do, what we eat, what our house is like, where we go and walk the dog, what the scenery is like.
'He doesn't have a TV, so I fill him in on the news. And he'll talk to me about anything - his medical ailments, if someone new has come onto the block.
'I just want to give him some insight into the free world and bring some comfort to his miserable life.'
But Ms Curtis is no stranger to seducing to jailbirds.
All six of her brothers have been behind bars, and she spent eight years writing to one of their friends in HMP Birmingham, who was serving time for manslaughter.
They continued the romance for another eight years on the outside, but the relationship broke down six years ago.
'It doesn't matter what they've done in the past. We don't talk about that. It's about the person they are now,' she said.
'I try to give Will a lift and help him through the loneliness. He says we shine a light on him, that we lift him up. He tells me I'm everything a woman could be.
Bizarre: 'Some people do find our relationship hard to understand,' said Ms Curtis. 'But I didn't start writing to Will with the intention of falling in love, it just happened'
Flirtations: Despite Mr Speer's flirtations, he has never been with a woman before; 'He was 16 when he went to prison so it's no wonder,' said Ms Curtis
'A lot of people will think he doesn't deserve it, but I think he's paid for his crimes,' said Ms Curtis, who opposes the death penalty.
'I don't think they should be forgiven. But I don't think they should take a life for a life. Executing someone doesn't solve anything.
'They're being punished every single day on death row. They've got it hard, they're locked up all the time, they don't get good food, medication or health care.
'They're living like animals. But even though they're killers, they're still human.'
Knowing the fate of Mr Speer leaves her with a daily torment.
'It upsets me knowing what he's going through on death row. He'll get that execution date soon. It'll be bad - knowing someone and the next minute they're gone. Waiting for that letter in the post that never comes.
'I try not to dwell on it, but I know things would be different if he was free.
'Sometimes I imagine him coming over to England and living with me, but I know it will never be. But for now I'm happy to live our relationship through the letters.'
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