SILENCE OF THE LAMBS LETTER SENT TO BEGGS; Maniac boasts of 'better' crime.

Byline: DEREK ALEXANDER EXCLUSIVE

A CHILLING confession has been sent to Limbs in the Loch killer William Beggs.

It came from a maniac suspected of one of Scotland's most notorious murders.

The horrifying message boasts that the man's crime was "better" than that of Beggs - caged last year for butchering teenager Barry Wallace.

Beggs got the letter in his Peterhead prison cell last week. The writer, who is in police custody and cannot be identified, claims he's responsible for a gruesome murder still being investigated.

The chilling letter echoes an episode in the thriller novel Red Dragon, which introduced Silence of the Lambs killer Hannibal Lecter. In the book, later turned into a hit movie, Lecter gets fan mail from another serial killer at his cell in a psychiatric hospital.

Beggs was said to be stunned by the taunting message but has refused to show the letter to police.

A prison insider said: "Beggs received this letter last week and even he was shocked. He has shown the letter to a couple of the prisoners but hasn't shown it to any of the staff."

It's not known whether gay psycho Beggs plans to reply.

The prison insider added: "We don't really know what Beggs plans to do with the letter. It's unlikely he will destroy it. Anyone who boasts that they've committed a 'better' crime than Beggs is a serious headcase."

Beggs became Scotland's most hated man after he murdered 18-year-old Barry Wallace three years ago.

Beggs lured the supermarket worker back to his flat in Kilmarnock where he sexually assaulted him and later cut up his body, dumping his limbs in Loch Lomond and the sea off Ayrshire.

Beggs fled Scotland and was arrested in the Netherlands.

He fought extradition but was eventually jailed for life, with a 20-year minimum recommendation.