Mark Rowntree

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Mark Rowntree (born c. 1956) is a British serial killer who was committed to a mental hospital after he admitted killing four people at random in the town of Bingley in Yorkshire.

On December 31, 1975 nineteen-year-old Rowntree stabbed an elderly widow to death, then celebrated with a beer at the local pub. A few days later, he killed a sixteen-year-old boy at a bus stop. The victim died in hospital, although he was first able to give a description of his attacker to the police.

On January 7, 1976 Rowntree visited a prostitute at her home and stabbed her to death, along with her three-year-old son. By the time he returned home, the police were waiting for him, armed with the description given by the second victim. Rowntree gave a full confession to his crimes and complained that he had not managed to reach five victims — the body count of his hero, Donald Neilson.

Diagnosed as schizophrenic, Rowntree pleaded guilty to four counts of manslaughter on the ground of diminished responsibility at Leeds Crown Court in June 1976. He was ordered to be committed to Rampton Secure Hospital for an indefinite period, and after 30 years is still being held there.

He is now one of the longest serving prisoners in any British prison or hospital.