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Family's fury over escaped rapist Family's fury over escaped rapist
(about 5 hours later)
The handling of a case involving a killer who raped a 14-year-old girl after escaping from a secure private hospital has been strongly criticised.The handling of a case involving a killer who raped a 14-year-old girl after escaping from a secure private hospital has been strongly criticised.
Monmouth MP David Davies said the victim's family were "very angry".Monmouth MP David Davies said the victim's family were "very angry".
Darren Harkin, 21, who dragged her from the street at knifepoint in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, has been jailed indefinitely at Reading Crown Court.Darren Harkin, 21, who dragged her from the street at knifepoint in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, has been jailed indefinitely at Reading Crown Court.
The National Autistic Society, which runs Hayes Hospital, near Bristol, said it would act on a review of the case.The National Autistic Society, which runs Hayes Hospital, near Bristol, said it would act on a review of the case.
The prosecution told the court that the case "beggared belief".The prosecution told the court that the case "beggared belief".
Judge Nicholas Cooke called for a Home Office investigation into why Harkin, a convicted killer, was allowed to watch horror and pornography films at the unit, and how he could escape so easily by walking out of the south Gloucestershire hospital.Judge Nicholas Cooke called for a Home Office investigation into why Harkin, a convicted killer, was allowed to watch horror and pornography films at the unit, and how he could escape so easily by walking out of the south Gloucestershire hospital.
Conservative MP Mr Davies also criticised the Home Office for the decision to move Harkin to the unit. What concerns me is that the police were not informed he was dangerous when he escaped David Davies, Monmouth MP Conservative MP Mr Davies also criticised the Home Office for the decision to move Harkin to the unit.
Criticism over escaped rapist
Mr Davies said: "I have spoken to the family of the victim many times and they are very angry with the way this case has been handled.Mr Davies said: "I have spoken to the family of the victim many times and they are very angry with the way this case has been handled.
"What concerns me is that the police were not informed he was dangerous when he escaped."What concerns me is that the police were not informed he was dangerous when he escaped.
"If someone is classed as highly dangerous then neighbouring police forces are alerted."If someone is classed as highly dangerous then neighbouring police forces are alerted.
"But I understand dangerous Harkin's status was on the verge of being downgraded at the time of his escape."But I understand dangerous Harkin's status was on the verge of being downgraded at the time of his escape.
"Therefore the real fault lies with the people who downgraded his dangerous status - the Home Office and the National Autistic Society who run Hayes Hospital. I am continuing to investigate this matter.""Therefore the real fault lies with the people who downgraded his dangerous status - the Home Office and the National Autistic Society who run Hayes Hospital. I am continuing to investigate this matter."
Harkin was 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.Harkin was 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.
Harkin was given a hospital order after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility in 2001.Harkin was given a hospital order after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility in 2001.
After that he was detained in several mental health units before being transferred in January 2007 to Hayes.After that he was detained in several mental health units before being transferred in January 2007 to Hayes.
The MP said the National Autistic Society (NAS) should not run the private hospital.The MP said the National Autistic Society (NAS) should not run the private hospital.
Highly dangerousHighly dangerous
Mr Davies said: "I do not think the NAS is equipped to run a hospital which looks after highly dangerous people such as Darren Harkin.Mr Davies said: "I do not think the NAS is equipped to run a hospital which looks after highly dangerous people such as Darren Harkin.
"The NAS do good work in the community but I think they are ill-equipped to run a hospital which looks after highly dangerous mental prisoners such as Darren Harkin.""The NAS do good work in the community but I think they are ill-equipped to run a hospital which looks after highly dangerous mental prisoners such as Darren Harkin."
He said the review of the case, which started in April, had still not been published.He said the review of the case, which started in April, had still not been published.
Mark Lever, chief executive of the NAS, said the full review into Harkin's escape was ongoing.Mark Lever, chief executive of the NAS, said the full review into Harkin's escape was ongoing.
He said: "This was a very serious incident and the NAS would like to express its deepest sympathy to the girl involved and her family. Police could only act on information given from the unit, and this said Harkin posed no risk to other people, only that he may neglect himself Avon and Somerset PoliceHe said: "This was a very serious incident and the NAS would like to express its deepest sympathy to the girl involved and her family. Police could only act on information given from the unit, and this said Harkin posed no risk to other people, only that he may neglect himself Avon and Somerset Police
"We are taking this case extremely seriously and a full independent external review, led by the country's leading expert in this field, is already underway to examine the circumstances around this incident."We are taking this case extremely seriously and a full independent external review, led by the country's leading expert in this field, is already underway to examine the circumstances around this incident.
"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.""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."
Avon and Somerset Police said they had not been warned of the dangers Harkin posed.Avon and Somerset Police said they had not been warned of the dangers Harkin posed.
A spokesman said: "Police could only act on information given from the unit, and this said Harkin posed no risk to other people, only that he may neglect himself.A spokesman said: "Police could only act on information given from the unit, and this said Harkin posed no risk to other people, only that he may neglect himself.
"Harkin was not under any police management at the time, only that of the Hayes Unit."Harkin was not under any police management at the time, only that of the Hayes Unit.
"Following the offence committed by Harkin in Gwent, Avon and Somerset Constabulary voluntarily referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."Following the offence committed by Harkin in Gwent, Avon and Somerset Constabulary voluntarily referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
"The IPCC quickly decided that it was not necessary for them to oversee the investigation into Harkin's absconding and the matter was referred back to Avon and Somerset's Policing Standards Department.""The IPCC quickly decided that it was not necessary for them to oversee the investigation into Harkin's absconding and the matter was referred back to Avon and Somerset's Policing Standards Department."
He added: "The matter has been fully investigated by them, and it has been found that Avon and Somerset Constabulary acted appropriately and proportionately with the information given to officers at the time."He added: "The matter has been fully investigated by them, and it has been found that Avon and Somerset Constabulary acted appropriately and proportionately with the information given to officers at the time."