Britain, Manchester[Reuters]: Britain's "Dr Death" Harold Shipman joined the ranks of the world's serial killers. Inquiry headed by Dame Janet Smith into the death of almost 500 Shipman patients revealed at least 200 died by lethal injections over 23 years on top of 15 patients he had already convicted of killing.

Killing spree ran from 1975 to 1998. Victims were 171 women and 44 men. Ages from 41 year old man to 93 year old woman. Once highly respected, bespectacled doctor, prefers bloodless method of killing throughout, using high doses of injectable heroin.

Shipman is currently serving life at Flandland jail, County Durham, said to have his drive to kill was fuelled by a desire for a God-like power over life and death.