Prisoner who stabbed child killer Roy Whiting told nurses he did it to get taken off the wing, court hears
A prisoner who stabbed child killer Roy Whiting in his jail cell told nurses he had 'no option other than attack a sex offender in order to get taken off the wing', a court heard.
Andrew Light, 45, complained he 'disliked being among nonces' on D-Wing of HMP Wakefield.
He was also taking the illicit drug Spice whilst inside shortly before stabbing Whiting, 66, with a six-inch wooden shank, a jury at Leeds Crown Court was told.
Whiting - who is serving a life sentence for the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne in July 2000 - was stabbed by Light with the improvised weapon on February 11, 2024.
Psychiatrist Dr Purvesh Madhani assessed Light after his attack on Whiting.
The doctor told the attempted murder trial Light suffered from schizoaffective disorder and an emotionally unstable personality disorder, but he 'had the requisite capacity to form intent' at the time he tried to kill Whiting.
His condition had been managed for decades by taking the anti-psychotic medicine Olanzapine - which stopped him hallucinating - and he was transferred to HMP Wakefield in August 2023 after spending 20 years in a psychiatric facility.
Dr Madhani told the court Light had suicidal thoughts and self harmed when he failed to properly take his medication, but at the time of his attack on Whiting he had 'agency', was 'goal orientated' and 'aware of his actions'.
The psychiatrist said Light's medical record showed he had been taking the novel psychoactive substance Spice in the period leading up to the stabbing, which could have effected his mental condition.
Light told prison nurses in October 2023 that he was 'unhappy' in HMP Wakefield and 'disliked being among nonces'.
They recorded in his medical notes that 'being among nonces is making him feel unwell'. He felt 'angry and frustrated'.
After failing a mandatory drugs test Light said he 'did not give a s**t about medication'.
The medical record read: 'Andrew stated he now feels he has no option other than attack a sex offender in order to get taken off the wing.'
Prosecutor Michael Smith asked Dr Madhani what did Light telling Whiting 'that was for Sarah Payne' after stabbing him indicate about his awareness and capacity.
Dr Madhani said Light targeted Whiting.
'If that indeed was said, it indicates to me that he is capable of thinking in a coherent way about the alleged victim and his antecedence,' replied the doctor.
The jury has been told that Light has admitted possessing a bladed article in the prison and also pleaded guilty to unlawfully wounding Whiting.
He also changed his plea to guilty on a change of wounding with intent today.
However, Light still denies attempted murder.
The trial continues.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Moment 92-year-old is arrested at home over murder and rape of a pensioner almost 60 years ago
This is the moment a 92-year-old man was arrested at his home for the alleged rape and murder of a woman nearly six decades ago. Police bodyworn camera footage captured pensioner Ryland Headley being detained on suspicion of killing of Louisa Dunne in what was Britain's oldest cold case review. A trial into the murder of the 75-year-old in Bristol on June 27, 1967 remains ongoing. But after the video of Headley's arrest was shown to the jury, Avon and Somerset Police released the clip publicly - sharing what are the first images of the defendant. In the footage, a startled-looking Headley asks cops 'where are you getting this from?' as he is arrested. The video starts with officers turning up to his home in Ipswich, Suffolk, and asking if Headley can open up his door. He responds by asking 'who are you?' and then when he is told it's the police, he states: 'No, no. You can't come now. What do you want to come in for?' The female police officer adds: 'I'll explain, because it's a bit sensitive so we'd like to come in to speak to you properly please.' Headley tells cops: 'I've just got up and I'm very sick. I'm very sick. Not well at all.' The startled defendant then asks: 'What is this about?' The officer responds: 'I'll tell you inside because we don't want other people hearing. So can we just come inside and get you seated?' A second officer is heard telling him: 'I'm here today because I'm arresting you on suspicion of the rape and murder of Louisa Dunne, which happened in Bristol, in June 1967. 'The reason I'm arresting you is because the police have investigative material that indicates that you were responsible for that rape and murder of Mrs Dunne, which happened at Britannia Road in eastern Bristol, June 1967.' Throughout, Headley repeats 'yeah' at regular intervals. The officer then reads him his rights and Headley adds: 'Wait, wait. Where are you getting all this from?' The officer states: 'We have investigative information, so we have material that suggests that it is yourself and we need to arrest you and take you into custody so we can conduct an interview with you. 'So we can hear your events and interview you about it.' The trial was told Louisa's body was found by neighbours the morning after the horror attack in 1967. However, in the decades that followed no-one was brought to justice over her death, Bristol Crown Court heard. Her skirt, along witih other items from the scene, were kept in storage and were recently reexamined to try and make a breakthrough. Jurors have been told there is 'extremely strong' scientific evidence to suggest semen samples found on the skirt came from her alleged murderer. Giving evidence, a forensic scientist told jurors that recent direct DNA matches linking semen samples from Mrs Dunne's pubic hair and the blue skirt suggested they were 'one billion times' more likely to have come from Headley than from anyone else. An earlier statement from pathologist Dr Albert Hunt, who carried out Mrs Dunne's autopsy, revealed the cause of her death as asphyxiation due to strangulation and pressure on the mouth. Headley, of Ipswich, Suffolk, denies raping and murdering Ms Dunne in June 1967. The trial continues.
The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Dark forces are exploiting our soft-touch borders – it's time to take back control before it's too late
Putin boat in NATO leaders met yesterday to discuss global threats, including from Russia and China. Yet there's one massive security disaster that the British Government has been sleep-walking into. 1 Suspected terrorists, sex offenders and drug gang leaders have all arrived here illegally on small boats. And now security chiefs fear hostile states are taking advantage of Britain's inability to protect its own borders to sow division. The Left likes to dismiss the seriousness of illegal migrant crossings. Yet there is now mounting evidence that dark forces abroad want to weaponise the epic failure of our soft touch system to unpick the fabric of our society. Some illegal migrants are now effectively state-sponsored by rogue regimes like Russia and Iran, whose agents have provided support and false papers. The Home Office insists it is aware of the problem. Project beer ON the day he entered Number 10, Sir Keir Starmer promised to 'tread more lightly' on the lives of voters. How does he square that with the idea of draconian restrictions on booze ads? You'd think Labour's fun police would have learned their lesson after the ban on smoking in pub gardens went up in a flame of public outrage. Sun probe uncovers asylum seekers in hotels linked to string of rape cases Instead, the constant desire to interfere suggests we will never be free of the Nanny-knows-best attitude which infects our public health bodies. Labour now finds itself in the bizarre position of wanting to give the vote to 16-year-olds — yet barring anyone over 18 from watching an advert for lager online, or before 9pm on TV. What on earth will they consider next? A ban on eating sausages? A crackdown on cake? Life in Britain should be about freedom and choice. This latest crazy plan is enough to drive anyone to drink. Steely resolve IT'S a current madness that in the dash to Net Zero, Britain bans new drilling for fossil fuels while China burns billions of tons of coal to make cheap steel for wind turbines — which it then sells to us. But welcome changes now mean the Chinese can be cut out of Government contracts in critical areas of national security. That's not only a major boost for British steel and other UK firms. It's also a vital step towards keeping one of our biggest security threats at arm's length.
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Moment road sweeper vehicle reverses and kills elderly woman crossing the road: Police arrest man for death by dangerous driving
This is moment before a road sweeper vehicle reversed into an elderly woman and killed her as she cross the road. Khatija Umarji, 77, was crossing the road on Commercial Street in Batley at around 9.55am on Tuesday when she was hit by a rood sweeper. CCTV footage has since emerged capturing the tragic incident moments before Ms Umarji was struck as the vehicle as it reversed on the main road. Members of the public were also seen trying to lift the vehicle from the ground following the collision. A man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has since been released on bail, as the police probe continues. Officers from the Major Collision Enquiry Team continued to investigate what happened and have appealed for any witnesses to come forward. Detective Sergeant Nina Roper, of the Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: 'A woman has sadly lost her life, and an investigation is under way to establish the circumstances of what has taken place. 'We have spoken to a number of witnesses at the scene but would urge anyone else who has seen any part of this incident, or the events leading up to it, to please make contact. 'Motorists who were in the area are also asked to check whether they have captured any relevant dashcam footage if they have one fitted.' Anyone with information regarding the incident has been asked to contact the Major Collision Enquiry team via their website, or by calling 101 quoting log number 509 of June 24.
