Bradford murders suspect Stephen Griffiths in 'self-harm' incident

(JOHN GILES/PA WIRE)

A man accused of murdering three women was treated by medics after a self-harm incident at his remand prison, it emerged today.

Stephen Griffiths, 40, was taken to the care wing at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire, where he is being held.

He was reportedly found unconscious on the floor of his cell yesterday with a sock tied round his neck.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: "We can confirm that a prisoner at HMP Wakefield received treatment in the prisoner care wing following an incident of self-harm."

No details were given about the severity of the injuries, or whether the inmate was out of the wing care.

Griffiths, a criminology student, from Holmfield Court, Thornton Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, is accused of murdering Suzanne Blamires, Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth, who all disappeared while working as prostitutes in Bradford.

The former public schoolboy appeared at Bradford Crown Court via a videolink on Monday, where his legal team said it was going to consult experts to assess his "mental state".

During the 29-minute hearing, Griffiths, who referred to himself as the "Crossbow Cannibal" at a previous appearance, spoke only to confirm his name and sat through the majority of the proceedings with his arms folded, leaning on a desk at Wakefield Prison with his head bowed.

Judge James Goss QC set a review hearing next month, and a provisional trial date for November 16 at Bradford Crown Court.

Video:'Crossbow cannibal' self-harm bid

Ms Blamires was last seen on May 21, Ms Armitage has been missing since April 26, and Ms Rushworth disappeared on June 22 last year.

Body parts belonging to Ms Blamires were found in the River Aire in Shipley on May 25, and tests confirmed that a small piece of human tissue later found in the water belonged to Ms Armitage.

Griffiths, a psychology graduate undertaking postgraduate research in criminology at Bradford University, was arrested on May 24 at the flat on the edge of Bradford's red-light district.