ROY WHITING, CONVICTED CHILD KILLER, VICTIM OF PRISON ATTACK IN WEST YORKSHIRE
| Red Rose Database
Elmbridge Child Sexual Abuser
In January 2016, Roy Whiting, a convicted paedophile and child murderer, aged 56, was violently assaulted while in prison. Whiting, serving at least 40 years for the 2000 murder of 8-year-old Sarah Payne, was beaten by a fellow inmate who punched him and scalded him with a hot water flask. A prison source stated, "He got clobbered from behind. It wasn’t major but shows he’s still a target." Whiting received immediate medical attention within the facility.
Sarah Payne was abducted and killed in July 2000 after playing in a cornfield near her grandparents’ house when she was snatched and driven away in Whiting’s van. The attack marked his first assault in prison; he previously suffered similar incidents, including in 2014 when he was battered and in 2011 when he was stabbed in both eyes with a sharpened toilet brush.
On 4 August 2002, Whiting was also assaulted with a razor at HMP Wakefield by another inmate, resulting in a six-inch scar on his right cheek. Prison authorities promised action against those involved in that attack.
In November 2014, Whiting was attacked again, just days after the death of Michael Payne, Sarah’s father. The assault happened amid heightened tensions following Payne’s death, with a source revealing that “Feelings were running high at Wakefield after news of Michael Payne’s passing. Whiting is one of the most despised inmates because of his profile as a child killer. Just after lunch on Thursday, a fellow prisoner approached him and punched him full in the face. The attack lasted several seconds before warders intervened, and Whiting was quickly moved to a hospital wing for treatment.” Michael Payne died three days prior at his home in Kent, suffering from issues plausibly linked to years of alcohol use following Sarah’s kidnapping and murder.
Whiting, who is serving a minimum of 40 years after his 2001 conviction, has a history of prison attacks. In July 2012, he was stabbed in both eyes with a plastic toilet brush by Gary Vinter, a fellow inmate. Vinter, also a convicted murderer, claimed he attacked Whiting because he was a “dirty nonce.” Vinter received an additional five years on top of his life sentence and he made a full recovery.
In recent developments, it was reported that Whiting held a prison job with “perks,” earning £15 a week washing other sex offenders’ clothes, which allowed him more time outside his cell. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated, “We do not comment on individual cases.”
Additionally, on 4 August 2002, Tregaskis, another inmate at Wakefield, was found guilty of attacking Whiting with a razor, leaving him with a scar. This assault was part of a series of violent incidents involving Whiting during his incarceration.
In October 2012, Roy Whiting's minimum jail term was reduced from 50 to 40 years by a High Court judge, Mr Justice Simon. The judge deemed 40 years more appropriate, meaning Whiting wouldn’t be eligible for parole until his early 80s. His original 50-year sentence was imposed in 2002 by then Home Secretary David Blunkett, making him ineligible for release until 2051. After the ruling, Sarah’s mother expressed that “We understand he will be well into his 80s before he is eligible for parole. And the judge has said he does not want the Parole Board to consider any application until he has served the full 40 years. It’s not a terrible, terrible thing and it could have been a lot worse. So we carry on as before. He’s in prison and he can’t hurt any children.”
Background details reveal that Roy William Whiting was born on 26 January 1959 in Crawley, West Sussex. His early life was marked by familial disruption, and he left school in 1975 with no qualifications. Prior to his crimes, he worked various jobs including delivery, mechanics, and painting. He married Linda Booker in 1986, with whom he had a son; the marriage ended by 1990.
His 1995 conviction stemmed from abducting and assaulting an eight-year-old girl, leading to a four-year prison sentence. Released in 1997, he registered as a sex offender and moved to Littlehampton. In 2000, Sarah Payne went missing shortly after police visited Whiting’s flat, suspecting him of involvement. Although initially released due to lack of evidence, subsequent forensic investigations and witness testimonies led to his arrest.
Whiting was officially charged with Sarah Payne’s murder on 6 February 2001. His trial commenced on 14 November 2001 at Lewes Crown Court, where forensic evidence played a crucial role. Evidence included fibers from his van and a DNA match on a strand of hair found on a T-shirt. On 12 December 2001, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a judge stating it was a rare case warranting a whole-life order.
After his conviction, it was confirmed he had prior convictions for sex offenses, fueling campaigns for greater public access to the sex offenders’ register, inspired by the American Megan’s Law.
In 2002, Whiting was attacked by Rickie Tregaskis with a razor but survived. Home Secretary David Blunkett later ordered Whiting to serve at least 50 years, a ruling challenged in 2010 when the High Court reduced his minimum term to 40 years. Whiting’s eligibility for parole is now set for 2041.
Sarah Payne was abducted and killed in July 2000 after playing in a cornfield near her grandparents’ house when she was snatched and driven away in Whiting’s van. The attack marked his first assault in prison; he previously suffered similar incidents, including in 2014 when he was battered and in 2011 when he was stabbed in both eyes with a sharpened toilet brush.
On 4 August 2002, Whiting was also assaulted with a razor at HMP Wakefield by another inmate, resulting in a six-inch scar on his right cheek. Prison authorities promised action against those involved in that attack.
In November 2014, Whiting was attacked again, just days after the death of Michael Payne, Sarah’s father. The assault happened amid heightened tensions following Payne’s death, with a source revealing that “Feelings were running high at Wakefield after news of Michael Payne’s passing. Whiting is one of the most despised inmates because of his profile as a child killer. Just after lunch on Thursday, a fellow prisoner approached him and punched him full in the face. The attack lasted several seconds before warders intervened, and Whiting was quickly moved to a hospital wing for treatment.” Michael Payne died three days prior at his home in Kent, suffering from issues plausibly linked to years of alcohol use following Sarah’s kidnapping and murder.
Whiting, who is serving a minimum of 40 years after his 2001 conviction, has a history of prison attacks. In July 2012, he was stabbed in both eyes with a plastic toilet brush by Gary Vinter, a fellow inmate. Vinter, also a convicted murderer, claimed he attacked Whiting because he was a “dirty nonce.” Vinter received an additional five years on top of his life sentence and he made a full recovery.
In recent developments, it was reported that Whiting held a prison job with “perks,” earning £15 a week washing other sex offenders’ clothes, which allowed him more time outside his cell. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated, “We do not comment on individual cases.”
Additionally, on 4 August 2002, Tregaskis, another inmate at Wakefield, was found guilty of attacking Whiting with a razor, leaving him with a scar. This assault was part of a series of violent incidents involving Whiting during his incarceration.
In October 2012, Roy Whiting's minimum jail term was reduced from 50 to 40 years by a High Court judge, Mr Justice Simon. The judge deemed 40 years more appropriate, meaning Whiting wouldn’t be eligible for parole until his early 80s. His original 50-year sentence was imposed in 2002 by then Home Secretary David Blunkett, making him ineligible for release until 2051. After the ruling, Sarah’s mother expressed that “We understand he will be well into his 80s before he is eligible for parole. And the judge has said he does not want the Parole Board to consider any application until he has served the full 40 years. It’s not a terrible, terrible thing and it could have been a lot worse. So we carry on as before. He’s in prison and he can’t hurt any children.”
Background details reveal that Roy William Whiting was born on 26 January 1959 in Crawley, West Sussex. His early life was marked by familial disruption, and he left school in 1975 with no qualifications. Prior to his crimes, he worked various jobs including delivery, mechanics, and painting. He married Linda Booker in 1986, with whom he had a son; the marriage ended by 1990.
His 1995 conviction stemmed from abducting and assaulting an eight-year-old girl, leading to a four-year prison sentence. Released in 1997, he registered as a sex offender and moved to Littlehampton. In 2000, Sarah Payne went missing shortly after police visited Whiting’s flat, suspecting him of involvement. Although initially released due to lack of evidence, subsequent forensic investigations and witness testimonies led to his arrest.
Whiting was officially charged with Sarah Payne’s murder on 6 February 2001. His trial commenced on 14 November 2001 at Lewes Crown Court, where forensic evidence played a crucial role. Evidence included fibers from his van and a DNA match on a strand of hair found on a T-shirt. On 12 December 2001, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a judge stating it was a rare case warranting a whole-life order.
After his conviction, it was confirmed he had prior convictions for sex offenses, fueling campaigns for greater public access to the sex offenders’ register, inspired by the American Megan’s Law.
In 2002, Whiting was attacked by Rickie Tregaskis with a razor but survived. Home Secretary David Blunkett later ordered Whiting to serve at least 50 years, a ruling challenged in 2010 when the High Court reduced his minimum term to 40 years. Whiting’s eligibility for parole is now set for 2041.