LONDON, UK – Serving a 26-year prison sentence for the assault and murder of teacher Katie Locke, Carl Langdell made headlines once again after a prison guard received a substantial payout following a violent attack by Langdell at HMP Bedford. The incident occurred when Langdell, infamous as the ‘Plenty of Fish killer’, assaulted the guard after being denied access to smoke in his cell.
During the four-minute attack, Langdell inflicted severe injuries on the guard, including a smashed eye socket and attempted strangulation. The guard, who chose to remain anonymous, endured psychological trauma and physical harm, leading to a £601,000 settlement after an eight-year legal battle.
In response to the incident, a prison service spokesperson emphasized the importance of safeguarding staff and outlined measures taken to enhance safety. Despite this, Langdell’s violent tendencies were known prior to the attack, with reports of his admission to having “violent fantasies” and self-identifying as a psychopath to NHS staff months before Katie Locke’s tragic murder.
A subsequent inquest highlighted significant failings by public bodies, including Herts police and the Herts Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, in addressing Langdell’s diagnosed personality disorder and history of violent behavior. These oversights were deemed to have contributed to the escalation of events leading to Katie Locke’s untimely death.
The culmination of Langdell’s turbulent history was his relocation to maximum security Wakefield Prison, where he ultimately took his own life in 2021. The tragic chain of events surrounding Langdell’s actions serves as a stark reminder of the imperative to address and intervene in cases of individuals exhibiting dangerous behaviors.