Dominic West identifies with Fred West

Dominic West could identify with the "dark sexual fantasies" of serial killer and rapist Fred West while playing him in a new TV drama.

While 'The Wire' actor conceded the criminal was a "monster", he admitted he found himself understanding some aspects of Fred's personality as he researched the role for the new ITV series 'Appropriate Adult', which will air later this year.

He said: "This is very, very, dangerous territory, but necessarily one has something in common. You have to find common ground and that common ground is the basic part of you.

"I had to pull back from sympathising too much when my conscience said stop."

However, Dominic admitted his wife did not want him to take on the role and he himself thinks Fred's behaviour - which included him and his wife Rose, 57, torturing, raping and murdering 12 young women and girls in their home - was "crazy".

He added to The Sunday Times Magazine: "My wife was revolted and my sisters were terrified we're related.

"He lied all the time. At first he lied to get off, then to get off with a light sentence, then getting Rose off, then blaming everything on Rose. Then it was, 'I'll give you one body a year so I get one day out of prison every year. I won't give you all of them, but if I do one a year, I get a day out of prison each year'. I mean that's crazy."

Along with documenting Fred's crimes, the upcoming series will examine the relationship between Fred and voluntary worker Janet Leach, who sat in with him during police interviews, and later claimed he had fallen in love with her.