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'''Mark Andrew Rowntree''' (born 1956) is a British [[spree killer]] who committed murdered four people in random knife attacks over a period of eight days in [[West Yorkshire]], England in 1975 and 1976.
'''Mark Andrew Rowntree''' (born 1956) 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.<ref>Kate O'Hara [http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Chilling-threats-of-a-killer.718354.jp Chilling threats of a killer...], the ''[[Yorkshire Post]]'', 3 January 2004; retrieved 6 February 2011.</ref> Due to the timing of his spree, some of his victims were erroneously assumed to have been killed by Peter Sutcliffe, who was known in the press at the time as the [[Yorkshire Ripper]], which distracted police enquiries at the time.

Diagnosed as a [[Schizophrenia|paranoid schizophrenic]], Rowntree pleaded guilty to four counts of [[manslaughter]] on the grounds of [[diminished responsibility]] in June 1976. He was committed indefinitely to detention within a maximum security [[psychiatric hospital]], and is currently an inmate within [[Rampton Secure Hospital]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 March 2004|access-date=14 May 2024|title=Serial Killer Locked Away Forever|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8004075.serial-killer-locked-awy-forever/|newspaper=[[Telegraph & Argus]]}}</ref>

Due to the timing and location of Rowntree's murders, two of his victims were erroneously assumed to have been killed by Peter Sutcliffe, who was known in the press at the time as the [[Yorkshire Ripper]], which distracted contemporary police enquiries.


==Crimes==
==Crimes==
On 31 December 1975, 19-year-old Rowntree stabbed widow Grace Adamson to death, then celebrated with a beer at the local pub.{{sfn|Wade|2005|p=142}} On 3 January 1976, he killed sixteen-year-old Stephen Wilson at a bus stop in [[Eastburn, West Yorkshire]]. The victim died in hospital, although he was first able to give a description of his attacker to the police.{{sfn|Wade|2005|p=143}}
On 31 December 1975, 19-year-old Rowntree stabbed widow Grace Adamson to death, then celebrated with a beer at the local pub.{{sfn|Wade|2005|p=142}} On 3 January 1976, he killed sixteen-year-old Stephen Wilson at a bus stop in [[Eastburn, West Yorkshire]]. The victim died in hospital, although he was first able to give a detailed description of his attacker to the police.{{sfn|Wade|2005|p=143}}


On 7 January 1976, Rowntree visited part-time model Barbara Booth at her home and stabbed her to death, along with her three-year-old son Alan.{{sfn|Wade|2005|p=143}} 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 &mdash; the body count of his hero, [[Donald Neilson]].<ref name=":Book:">{{cite book|last1=Abrahams|first1=Ian |title=Hawkwind : sonic assassins|date=2004|publisher=SAF Publishing|location=London|isbn=9780946719693|page=273}}</ref>
On 7 January 1976, Rowntree visited part-time model Barbara Booth at her home and stabbed her to death, along with her three-year-old son Alan.{{sfn|Wade|2005|p=143}} 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 &mdash; the body count of his hero, [[Donald Neilson]].<ref name=":Book:">{{cite book|last1=Abrahams|first1=Ian |title=Hawkwind: Sonic Assassins|date=2004|publisher=SAF Publishing|location=London|isbn=978-0-946-71969-3|page=273}}</ref>


==Conviction==
Diagnosed with [[schizophrenia]], Rowntree pleaded guilty to four counts of [[manslaughter in English law|manslaughter]] on the ground of [[diminished responsibility in English law|diminished responsibility]] at [[Leeds Crown Court]] in June 1976. He was ordered to be committed to [[Rampton Secure Hospital]] for an indefinite period.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Langley|first1=Robert|title=The terrifying killers treated at Rampton Hospital|url=http://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/a-history-of-the-terrifying-killers-treated-at-rampton-hospital/story-30398061-detail/story.html|accessdate=21 June 2017|work=Lincolnshire Live|date=19 June 2017|language=en}}</ref>
Diagnosed with [[schizophrenia]], Rowntree pleaded guilty to four counts of [[manslaughter in English law|manslaughter]] on the ground of [[diminished responsibility in English law|diminished responsibility]] at [[Leeds Crown Court]] in June 1976. He was ordered to be committed to [[Rampton Secure Hospital]] for an indefinite period.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Langley|first1=Robert|title=The Terrifying Killers Treated at Rampton Hospital|url=http://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/a-history-of-the-terrifying-killers-treated-at-rampton-hospital/story-30398061-detail/story.html|access-date=21 June 2017|work=Lincolnshire Live|date=19 June 2017|language=en}}</ref>


He is now one of the longest serving patients in any British psychiatric/secure hospital. He changed his name to Paul Page in the late 1990s and has been allowed out on day trips from the secure hospitals he is incarcerated in.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mystery of flowers on murdered boy's grave|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8069852.Mystery_of_flowers_on_murdered_boy_s_grave/|accessdate=21 June 2017|work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|date=2 January 1999|language=en}}</ref>
He is now one of the longest serving patients in any British psychiatric/secure hospital. He changed his name to Paul Page in the late 1990s and has been allowed out on day trips from the secure hospitals he is incarcerated in.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mystery of flowers on murdered boy's grave|url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8069852.Mystery_of_flowers_on_murdered_boy_s_grave/|accessdate=21 June 2017|work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|date=2 January 1999|language=en}}</ref>

Revision as of 00:45, 14 May 2024

Mark Rowntree
Born
Mark Andrew Rowntree

1956
Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
NationalityEnglish
Other namesPaul Page
Alex Heaton
Mark King
Mark Allen Evans
OccupationBus conductor
Criminal penaltyIndefinite detention in a psychiatric hospital
Details
Date31 December 1975 – 7 January 1976
Location(s)
Killed4
WeaponsKnife

Mark Andrew Rowntree (born 1956) is a British spree killer who committed murdered four people in random knife attacks over a period of eight days in West Yorkshire, England in 1975 and 1976.

Diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, Rowntree pleaded guilty to four counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility in June 1976. He was committed indefinitely to detention within a maximum security psychiatric hospital, and is currently an inmate within Rampton Secure Hospital.[1]

Due to the timing and location of Rowntree's murders, two of his victims were erroneously assumed to have been killed by Peter Sutcliffe, who was known in the press at the time as the Yorkshire Ripper, which distracted contemporary police enquiries.

Crimes

On 31 December 1975, 19-year-old Rowntree stabbed widow Grace Adamson to death, then celebrated with a beer at the local pub.[2] On 3 January 1976, he killed sixteen-year-old Stephen Wilson at a bus stop in Eastburn, West Yorkshire. The victim died in hospital, although he was first able to give a detailed description of his attacker to the police.[3]

On 7 January 1976, Rowntree visited part-time model Barbara Booth at her home and stabbed her to death, along with her three-year-old son Alan.[3] 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.[4]

Conviction

Diagnosed with 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.[5]

He is now one of the longest serving patients in any British psychiatric/secure hospital. He changed his name to Paul Page in the late 1990s and has been allowed out on day trips from the secure hospitals he is incarcerated in.[6]

In 1994, he partook in an adventure holiday in Kielder Forest, for which the then-Home Secretary had to apologise.[7]

In 2003, he again changed his name to Mark Allen Evans and has also used pseudonyms in an attempt to get his novels, poetry and short stories published.[8] In 1992, the Space rock band Hawkwind released an album titled Electric Tepee. One of the tracks on the album, Death of War, is co-credited to Mark Rowntree as the lyrics are taken from one of Rowntree's poems.[4]

In March 2004, Evans (Rowntree) was convicted of threats to kill a social worker at the secure hospital in Middlesbrough where he was locked up. The judge detained Evans at Rampton Hospital without time limit, which has led to speculation that he will never be released.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Serial Killer Locked Away Forever". Telegraph & Argus. 5 March 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  2. ^ Wade 2005, p. 142.
  3. ^ a b Wade 2005, p. 143.
  4. ^ a b Abrahams, Ian (2004). Hawkwind: Sonic Assassins. London: SAF Publishing. p. 273. ISBN 978-0-946-71969-3.
  5. ^ Langley, Robert (19 June 2017). "The Terrifying Killers Treated at Rampton Hospital". Lincolnshire Live. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Mystery of flowers on murdered boy's grave". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 2 January 1999. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  7. ^ Wade 2005, p. 144.
  8. ^ "'I now know they'll never release me'". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 26 August 2003. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Serial killer locked awy[sic] forever". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 5 March 2004. Retrieved 21 June 2017.

Cited works and further reading

  • Cobb, Richard Charles (2023). Convicting the Yorkshire Ripper: The Trial of Peter Sutcliffe. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. p. 163. ISBN 978-1-399-01190-7.
  • Dunning, John (1992). Mindless Murders. Great Britain: Mulberry Editions. ISBN 1-873-12333-7.
  • Lane, Brian; Gregg, Wilfred (1995) [1992]. The Encyclopedia Of Serial Killers. New York City: Berkley Books. pp. 303–304. ISBN 0-425-15213-8.
  • Safarik, Mark; Ramsland, Katherine (2019). Spree Killers: Practical Classifications for Law Enforcement and Criminology. Oxfordshire: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-72745-6.
  • Wade, Stephen (2005). Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths around Bradford. Barnsley: Wharncliffe Books. ISBN 1-903425-83-2.
  • Whittington-Egan, Richard; Whittington-Egan, Molly (1992). The Murder Almanac. Glasgow: Neil Wilson Publishing. ISBN 978-1-897-78404-4.
  • Wilson, Colin; Wilson, Damon (2007). The World's Most Evil Murderers: Real-Life Stories of Infamous Killers. Bath: Parragon Publishing. ISBN 978-1-405-48828-0.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mark_Rowntree&oldid=1223735516"