WRITING to a pen pal was something kids did in the era pre-Facebook, WhatsApp and Snapchat.
But some women are reigniting this bygone hobby by sending rambling love letters – and the occasional racy photograph – to men who are in prison.
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Controversial websites such as loveaprisoner.com and writeaprisoner.com feature a list of inmates who are up for finding a pen friend.
Much like a dating profile, the portals feature a photograph alongside a short biography, their hobbies and interests – and details of their incarceration.
Women pick which guy they like they look of before building a rapport – and sometimes a romantic relationship – via the post.
Love a Prisoner claims to have a “75% compatibility rating for those looking for their soul mate” – including inmates on death row.
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“Our mission is to give inmates a sense of hopefulness by connecting them to people on the ‘outside world’,” the website states.
“Those from all walks of life have committed to our pen-pal service to communicate with inmates and have formed nurturing and unconditional friendships.
“Inmates are not only thrilled to communicate with pen-pals but have stated that it has been a ‘spiritually and emotionally fulfilling experience’.”
Women who are members of Write a Prisoner have confessed what it is they look for in an inmate.
Writing on the site's online forum, a user called ‘Vynte’ said she likes “chatty” prisoners aged 40 and over – and avoids anyone who asks her for cash.
She said: “I want to write to someone who can maintain their end of a conversation. I avoid profiles in which the inmate goes into a spiel about them being wrongfully convicted.
“I also avoid profiles that are ‘seeking donations’ because I don't want pals that expect me to support them financially.
“As far as crimes go, I write to robbers and murderers, but I do not write to sex offenders.”
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‘Peanut2’ added: “The age does not matter to me, the mind set and heart is what matters to me.”
Women also gave an insight into what they discuss with their jailbird pen pals.
In a separate thread, a user called ‘XIPO’ said nothing is off limits: “I don't have any taboo topics. In fact, I told them in my first letter that I will totally be honest whether they like it or not.
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“I mean a pen pal can be a unique friend because you have the opportunity to be completely honest and even discuss things you usually avoid talking about in your daily life simply because he is so far away.”
Many of the women write to the prisoners for a number of years and build intense relationships.
‘Elsbeth’ wrote online: “I write to two on Death Row – one I have to admit I am falling for.
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“It makes me human and I will carry on – so to everyone that writes to any prisoner – it's a good thing in my books.”
‘Deathrow darling’ said: “My LO [loved one] is on DR [death row] and I found him over a penpalship half a year ago.
“I never intended to become his girlfriend, but he never gave up.
She added: “There are a lot of women on the go for the extra kick of danger in it.
“I don't know, what makes them tick, but usually their kinky pictures get traded for stamps and stuff very soon and these women are usually known between the DR inmates.”
While another woman with the username ‘Mystic Mo UK’ wrote: “Being a pen pal to someone on death row isn't easy but it is very rewarding.
“I have personally lost several pals to execution and each time it hurts but each time I am comforted by the knowledge that I helped to make that person feel 'wanted' when almost all others had walked away.
“Everybody that writes to a pen pal will grow 'close’, there are many levels of closeness.”
Women have also slammed claims they are “groupies” of men who have committed vile acts.
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‘Elsbeth’ continued: “Writing to them and enjoying that, and even yeah developing feelings for them as friends or whatever – doesn’t make me a groupie."
‘MoxieBravo’ added: “I realise that there is a certain stigma attached to me because I write to a prisoner on death row.
“I chalk it up to stereotypes, understanding that I will more than likely always be generalised. The good have to suffer for the bad after all.”
“We aren't all ‘groupies’.
“Some of us write to these guys because, no matter how hard the world tries to get us to think otherwise…We think they deserve a caring friend.”
A user called ‘Pihlle’ who has been writing to her pen pal for more than three years says she is drawn to the attention he lavishes on her.
“I am so attracted to him, and I love the attention he is giving me,” she said.
“I get mails every day, with the sweetest words, don't get me wrong he is not sleazy, he is just very honest and telling me how much I mean to him.”
Meanwhile, Paula Williamson revealed she’ll marry Charles Bronson, Britain’s most notorious criminal, in a prison chapel – despite only having met him four times.
The 64-year-old told Good Morning Britain that their relationship is the real deal: "If only I could have met him outside of this situation, how wonderful that would be, however he is where he is and I have met him and I can't deny chemistry, you cannot deny when you fall in love with somebody.
"I'm very excited to be his fiance because I'm in love with the man and that's God's honest truth."
