Rapist 'allowed porn DVDs'

A violent schizophrenic was taken on trips to the cinema to watch horror films by staff before he escaped from a low-security hospital near Bristol and raped a 14-year-old girl, a court has heard.

Darren Harkin, 21, was also allowed to build a vast collection of horror and pornographic DVDs while being detained for stabbing his six-month-old stepbrother to death in his cot.

His behaviour became increasingly disturbed and he eventually escaped from Hayes Hospital in the village of Pilning in February this year.

The following morning he dragged a schoolgirl off the street in nearby Chepstow, Monmouthshire, at knifepoint and raped her.

Harkin, who has autistic spectrum disorder as well as schizophrenia, was ordered to be locked up indefinitely after admitting escaping from lawful custody, burglary and two counts of rape following a hearing at Reading Crown Court.

The judge said the case highlighted a number of concerns including why Harkin, who had a history of absconding, was moved to a low-security unit, why staff waited nearly half an hour before telling police about his escape, and why neighbouring police forces were not alerted.