BRISTOL MAN DARREN HARKIN ESCAPES PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL AND ATTACKS SCHOOLGIRL IN CHEPSTOW
In September 2008, a disturbing case unfolded involving Darren Harkin, a man with a complex mental health history, who managed to escape from a low-security psychiatric facility in Bristol and subsequently committed a heinous assault in Chepstow, Monmouthshire.Harkin, aged 21 at the time, had a documented history of severe mental illness, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder.
His background was marred by a violent incident from his childhood, when he was just 12 years old.
During that tragic episode in January 2000, Harkin repeatedly stabbed his six-month-old stepbrother, David, in the head, chest, and spine with a kitchen knife from their home in Hartcliffe.
The attack resulted in the infant losing a hand, and astonishingly, Harkin later walked into a nearby police station to confess to the crime.
The court heard that he was subsequently convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was placed under a hospital order.
Over the years, Harkin was transferred through various mental health institutions, including a period at Hayes Hospital in Pilning, near Bristol, managed by the National Autistic Society.
Despite his history of violent behavior and multiple absconding incidents, he was deemed suitable for transfer to a low-security hospital, a decision that raised serious concerns among mental health professionals and legal authorities.
While at Hayes, Harkin developed a significant collection of DVDs, including horror films and pornographic material.
Court reports indicated that his interest in such material was encouraged by hospital staff, who took him to watch horror movies at the cinema and allowed him unsupervised outings to leisure centers and snooker halls.
These outings, along with his access to the community, were part of his rehabilitation plan, but they also raised questions about the adequacy of supervision and risk management.
In early 2008, Harkin was placed under 24-hour surveillance after incidents of violence, including punching walls and lunging at staff members.
Following an inappropriate request for sex directed at a female staff member, hospital authorities decided that he should not be left alone with female employees.
Despite these precautions, Harkin managed to escape on February 2, 2008, while walking with a group of patients to a kitchen.
The staff escort did not activate a personal alarm, fearing it might alarm other residents, and police were not notified until thirty minutes later.
During his escape, Harkin broke into an unoccupied house nearby, where he cooked himself a pizza, stole clothing, and took two knives.
The following morning, he traveled across the Severn Bridge to Chepstow, Monmouthshire, where he encountered a 14-year-old schoolgirl.
Armed with a knife and threatening to kill her, Harkin dragged her into a secluded area and proceeded to rape her.
The attack was only halted when police arrived shortly afterward, arresting him at the scene.
It emerged during the court proceedings that local police forces were not immediately informed of Harkin’s escape, as Avon and Somerset police had failed to notify neighboring jurisdictions.
This delay in communication was heavily criticized by Judge Nicholas Cooke QC, who questioned why police were not alerted sooner and why the hospital staff did not activate the personal alarm immediately.
The judge expressed concern over the apparent lapses in safety protocols, emphasizing that any delay in response posed an unacceptable risk.
Harkin pleaded guilty to charges of escape from lawful custody, burglary, and two counts of rape.
Judge Cooke ordered that he be detained indefinitely at Broadmoor Hospital, a maximum-security psychiatric facility, citing the severity of his offenses and his mental health condition.
The court also highlighted the troubling decision-making process regarding his supervision and the apparent gaps in communication between the hospital and law enforcement agencies.
Defense counsel Michael Fitton QC argued that Harkin lacked the capacity for empathy and had not been adequately protected from himself.
In response, the National Autistic Society and Bristol Primary Care Trust announced that an independent review would be conducted into the case.
Mark Lever, the society’s chief executive, stated, “We have already committed to making the findings of this review publicly available and we will be acting on the report to ensure that nothing like this can happen again.”
