Huntley takes drugs overdose for third time
Thair Shaikh
Saturday September 29, 2007
The Guardian
Soham murderer Ian Huntley was admitted to hospital last night after overdosing with prescription medication, despite being on suicide watch.
Huntley, 33, convicted of killing schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, alerted staff at the Wakefield high security prison after taking the medication, the prison service said.
Officers found him while still conscious and took him to an undisclosed hospital. Late last night he was allowed to return to prison. A prison service spokesman, said: "We can confirm that Ian Huntley was treated in hospital for a suspected overdose. We will be investigating events surrounding this incident."
It is the third such incident involving Huntley, and will raise questions about security at the West Yorkshire prison.
In September 2006 prison staff found him unconscious in his cell in the early hours of the morning, again of a suspected drugs overdose. He had recently been taken off a full suicide watch.
In June 2003, he apparently tried to take his life while on remand in Woodhill prison near Milton Keynes; the former school caretaker was subsequently convicted of murder and is serving a minimum 40-year sentence.
The prison service refused to say what type of drugs Huntley had taken or whether he was receiving prescription medication. Mark Leech, editor of the Prisons Handbook, said it was not uncommon for inmates to trade medication.
Mr Leech said: "This is a dreadful story for the prison service and a huge embarrassment for them, particularly as Huntley is the highest possible security category. It is going to require some heads to be banged together to sort this out."
I hope he remains alive to complete his forty year sentence.
ReplyDeleteThe parents of his victims have to serve a life sentence and so should he.
Kinsey
Last tine I looked taking your own life was not a crime, although it used to be.
ReplyDeleteYes they have a duty of care but on the other hand if someone wants to ed their life, even watching them 24/7 is not going to work.
Hell just hand the man the pills and let him get on with it if he is that determined to die.
Anon says:
ReplyDelete"I hope he remains alive to complete his forty year sentence."
So after 20 years your wish will be granted and IH walks a free man.