Mark Rowntree
Encyclopedia
Mark Rowntree is a British
spree killer
who was committed to a mental hospital
after he admitted killing four people at random in the town of Bingley
, West Yorkshire
, during late 1975 and early 1976.
On December 31 1975 19-year-old Rowntree stabbed widow Grace Adamson to death, then celebrated with a beer at the local pub. A few days later, he killed sixteen-year-old Stephen Wilson at a bus stop. The victim died in hospital, although he was first able to give a description of his attacker to the police.
On January 7 1976 Rowntree visited prostitute
Barbara Booth at her home and stabbed her to death, along with her three-year-old son Alan. By the time he returned home, the police were waiting for him, armed with the description given by the second victim. Rowntree gave a full confession to his crimes and complained that he had not managed to reach five victims — the body count of his hero, Donald Neilson
.
Diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia
, Rowntree pleaded guilty to four counts of manslaughter
on the ground of diminished responsibility
at Leeds
Crown Court in June 1976. He was ordered to be committed to Rampton Secure Hospital
for an indefinite period, but is now based at the Hutton Unit, a secure mental health facility based at St. Luke's Hospital in Middlesbrough.
He is now one of the longest serving patients in any British psychiatric/secure hospital.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
spree killer
Spree killer
A spree killer is someone who embarks on a murderous assault on two or more victims in a short time in multiple locations. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics defines a spree killing as "killings at two or more locations with almost no time break between murders."-Definition:According to the...
who was committed to a mental hospital
Mental Hospital
Mental hospital may refer to:*Psychiatric hospital*hospital in Nepal named Mental Hospital...
after he admitted killing four people at random in the town of Bingley
Bingley
Bingley is a market town in the metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford, in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, during late 1975 and early 1976.
On December 31 1975 19-year-old Rowntree stabbed widow Grace Adamson to death, then celebrated with a beer at the local pub. A few days later, he killed sixteen-year-old Stephen Wilson at a bus stop. The victim died in hospital, although he was first able to give a description of his attacker to the police.
On January 7 1976 Rowntree visited prostitute
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
Barbara Booth at her home and stabbed her to death, along with her three-year-old son Alan. By the time he returned home, the police were waiting for him, armed with the description given by the second victim. Rowntree gave a full confession to his crimes and complained that he had not managed to reach five victims — the body count of his hero, Donald Neilson
Donald Neilson
Donald Neilson is a British multiple murderer and armed robber...
.
Diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
, Rowntree pleaded guilty to four counts of manslaughter
Manslaughter in English law
In the English law of homicide, manslaughter is a less serious offence than murder, the differential being between levels of fault based on the mens rea . In England and Wales, the usual practice is to prefer a charge of murder, with the judge or defence able to introduce manslaughter as an option...
on the ground of diminished responsibility
Diminished responsibility in English law
In English law, diminished responsibility is one of the partial defences that reduce the offence from murder to manslaughter if successful . This allows the judge sentencing discretion, e.g. to impose a hospital order under section 37 Mental Health Act 1983 to ensure treatment rather than...
at Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
Crown Court in June 1976. He was ordered to be committed to Rampton Secure Hospital
Rampton Secure Hospital
Rampton Secure Hospital is a high security psychiatric hospital near the village of Woodbeck between Retford and Rampton in the Bassetlaw District of Nottinghamshire, England...
for an indefinite period, but is now based at the Hutton Unit, a secure mental health facility based at St. Luke's Hospital in Middlesbrough.
He is now one of the longest serving patients in any British psychiatric/secure hospital.