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’.
Sarah Payne’s murderer Roy Whiting (pictured) was stabbed by Light with the improvised weapon on February 11, 2024
The paedophile is being held at HMP Wakefield (pictured) which houses some of the UK’s most notorious prisoners
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.
Whiting is serving a life sentence for the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne (pictured) in July 2000
The prison (pictured) is nicknamed the ‘Monster Mansion’ due to the large number of high-profile, high-risk sex offenders and murderers being held
‘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.
