Rampton chief attacks Soham case publicity

Patients at Rampton high-security hospital where Ian Huntley is being held feel stigmatised amid the huge public interest his case has generated, according to the director of the facility.

In an exclusive interview with The Independent on Sunday, Dr Mike Harris said patients feared the presence of the man charged with the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman would have a negative impact on their cases.

"Every time something like this happens the patients [with severe personality disorders] see their chances of getting out are diminished and yet they are already the group with the longest stay in the hospital," said Dr Harris.

Dr Harris also criticised the Government's plans to lock up people with severe personality disorders before they have committed a crime. "This really worries me because if you look at the public's response to [the Soham murders] no one has been convicted and no one has been tried," he said. He said that accusations that someone is a danger to the public should be tested in court.

Meanwhile, police and lawyers yesterday expressed concern that some newspapers' articles on Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr may have so compromised a trial the pair may never face prosection.