'I'm glad my days are numbered ..I resent breathing the air of the English' EXCLUSIVE BRADY LETTERS SENSATION MURDERER SNEERS AT COUNTRY.

Byline: By ROBIN ACKROYD

AILING Moors Murderer Ian Brady claims he looks forward to dying - because he hates "breathing the air of the English".

The sneering child killer, 68, makes clear his contempt for his countrymen despite 40 years living at taxpayers' expense - and whinges about missing a chance to move to Australia as a youngster.

Brady, on hunger strike since 1999, brags in one of the recent letters from his high-security hospital: "I have always believed one should choose one's own life and death, rather than let others choose for you.

"Most people spend their life fearing and trying to outrace Death' I pity them."

His self-pitying whine goes on: "I'm glad my days are numbered' I resent breathing the air of the English."

And he claims: "At the age of nine I had the opportunity of moving to Australia. Pity I didn't like the idea."

Brady, who has shown no remorse since he and Myra Hindley murdered five youngsters in the 60s, also makes clear his hatred for the rest of humanity.

He talks about seeing a TV show depicting a helicopter tour of the world's greatest cities and their bustling populations. He chillingly boasts of how he would be unmoved if they died.

The callous murderer writes: "Seeing each city's multi-million population from the air, some in luxury skyscrapers, others in shanty towns, the sense that life is worthless and totally meaningless is increased.

"It's like watching ants scrambling around, of no significance to anyone in the universe. Reminds me of home, looking down from the ferris wheel at the dots - would you really feel any pity if one of those dots stopped moving forever?"

He and Hindley escaped the hangman's noose because the death penalty was scrapped a month before they were arrested.

They were jailed for life in 1966 and she died unmourned in prison four years ago aged 60. Yet Brady, currently being force-fed through a tube, claims both backed the death penalty and blasts chiefs at Ashworth Hospital, Merseyside, for refusing his death-wish.

He says: "The authorities even have the audacity to be personally affronted by my desire to depart, taking it as an insult to their 'care' and 'generosity' - ignoring the fact that we supported capital punishment, and, if cornered beyond salvage, planned to exit by gunshot.

"There's lack of insight for you on a monumental, retarded scale. Rather like being bothered by a double-glazing salesman as you are trying to die."

He and Hindley killed Lesley Ann Downey, 10' Edward Evans, 17' John Kilbride, 12' Pauline Reade,16' and Keith Bennett, 12 - atrocities that still horrify the nation.

However, Brady claims he is being victimised himself and complains about not being given "at least some peace" behind bars.

The murderer writes: "I've survived in mind and will four decades of an existence they can't even imagine."

HIS gripe goes on: "The prisoners' prisoner, obsession of the media, public and authorities, deliberately preserved, like a folk devil, or bad tooth they can't help probing and complaining about.

"I once thought I might eventually have a life and at least some peace inside a prison, but have long disabused myself of that prospect."

The curtains in his simple room are almost always closed and he hardly leaves it. He rarely talks to anyone, preferring to watch TV and rest during the day as he sleeps for less than four hours a night

But he also moans he does not have enough comforts and companionship, saying: "Nothing on the walls. Cell has toilet and wash-basin.

"The lack of intelligent mental stimulation is more important than furniture."

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CAPTION(S):

NOTE OF CONTEMPT: Evil Brady shows his disdain for his fellow Brits in letter from hospital' NO REMORSE: Brady in police car after arrest' HATRED: The Moors Murderer dismisses the populations of big cities as insignificant 'ants'