Mentally-ill rapist taken to see horror films » Health » 24dash.com

A mentally-ill patient was taken on day trips to the cinema to watch horror films by staff before escaping from a hospital and brutally raping a 14-year-old girl, a court heard today.

Darren Harkin, 21, was also allowed to build a vast collection of horror and pornographic DVDs while being detained for repeatedly stabbing his six-month-old stepbrother to death in his cot.

His behaviour became increasingly disturbed and he eventually fled the low-security Hayes Hospital in the village of Pilning near Bristol in February this year.

The following morning he dragged a schoolgirl off the street in nearby Chepstow, Monmouthshire at knifepoint and raped her.

Harkin, who suffers from autistic spectrum disorder and schizophrenia, was today ordered to be locked up indefinitely after pleading guilty to escape from lawful custody, burglary and two counts of rape following a hearing at Reading Crown Court.

The judge said the case highlighted a number of concerns, including why Harkin, who had a history of absconding, was moved to a low-security unit, why staff waited nearly half an hour before informing police of his escape and why neighbouring police forces were not alerted.

Harkin was aged just 12 when, in January 2000, he took a knife from the kitchen at his family home and stabbed his baby stepbrother, David, in the head, chest and spine and then cut off one of his hands.

He then calmly walked to the local police station in Bristol where he confessed what he had done.

He was given a hospital order after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility at Bristol Crown Court in April 2001.

After that he was locked up in various mental health units before being transferred in January 2007 to Hayes, which is an independent hospital for adults managed by the National Autistic Society.

Leighton Hughes, prosecuting, told the court that at Hayes Harkin was allowed to build "a vast collection" of DVDs including horror films and pornographic material.

He said that, according to the witness of statement of one staff member, Harkin's interest was "fuelled by other staff taking him to watch horror films at the cinema".

The Recorder of Cardiff, Nicholas Cooke QC, said that questions needed to be asked about the decision to allow Harkin to have access to such films.

He said: "I have little doubt that the judge that sentenced him would have been very horrified had he been told that this would lead in due course to him having unrestricted access to horror films and pornographic material. Someone needs to look into it.

"How on earth could it be thought appropriate that someone who had done such a thing could access horror films? It is difficult to understand."

Mr Hughes replied: "The Crown says it beggars belief."

The court had heard that Harkin met Home Office criteria for transfer to a low-security hospital despite having absconded three times from previous units.

Once at Hayes, in addition to the cinema trips, he was accompanied by staff on trips out to a local leisure centre, a snooker hall and taken out shopping. There was also some unsupervised leave.

But Mr Hughes said that by early 2008, Harkin's behaviour was deteriorating and he began damaging property, punching walls and made lunges at staff, resulting in him being put on 24 hour watch.

He had also asked a female staff member for sex and when told no asked if there was "anyone else available".

A decision was then taken that he should not be left alone with female staff because of the potential risk he posed.

Soon after, on February 2 this year, Harkin escaped while walking with a group to the kitchen for tea.

The court heard that the member of staff escorting them did not press a personal alarm for fear of causing panic among the other residents.

After an informal search staff did not call police until nearly half an hour after his escape.

The Recorder said: "How can it be that someone who is identified as such a risk that they should not be escorted by women alone yet a personal alarm is not activated immediately?

"Any delay was clearly taking a risk which on the face of it was unacceptable."

Harkin fled to a nearby empty house and cooked himself a pizza and made toast and jam before stealing clothes and two knives from the property.

The following morning Harkin arrived in Chepstow - later telling police he had walked across the Severn Bridge to get there.

After wandering around "looking lost" he came upon a 14-year-old girl whom he threatened with a Swiss Army knife, telling her he was going to kill her.

He grabbed her by the neck and dragged her to a secluded area. He first forced her to perform a sex act on him before raping her.

After letting her go, Harkin was arrested by Gwent Police within half an hour.

The court heard that despite being a neighbouring force to Avon and Somerset from where he had vanished, the force had not been notified that any patient had escaped.

The attack on the "brave" young girl had had a profound impact on her and her family, Mr Hughes said.

The court heard that the conditions suffered by Harkin, who began starting fires aged just seven, were such that he had a complete inability to empathise with other people.

Michael Fitton QC, defending, said he had not been "protected against himself".

The Recorder ordered that Harkin, whom he described as "exceptionally dangerous", be made the subject of a hospital order under the Mental Health Act without limit of time and be detained at maximum security Broadmoor Hospital.

He said: "I regard it impossible to perceive at the present time when it may be sensible for you to be released from conditions of high security, let alone into the community and the public needs to know that."