Former Broadmoor Patient Describes Decade Among Britain's Most Notorious Criminals
Paul Knight spent ten years within the walls of Broadmoor psychiatric hospital, sharing visits, television time, and cups of tea with some of Britain's most infamous killers. While many would find proximity to figures like the Yorkshire Ripper terrifying, Knight describes it as anything but chilling—in fact, he found it profoundly boring.
The Mundane Reality of High-Security Life
According to Knight, the presence of dangerous individuals at the Berkshire institution was so commonplace that forming casual "friendships" with double murderers felt entirely normal. From serial killer Peter Sutcliffe to cannibal Peter Bryan and a roster of Al-Qaeda jihadis, Knight interacted with scores of high-risk men during his confinement.
"You're friends with double murderers, it just becomes normal," Knight told the Daily Mail. "You don't get starstruck by any of the faces in there. When I was sitting next to the Yorkshire Ripper, I didn't think to myself, 'Oh wow.'"
From Prison to Broadmoor: A Violent Reputation Precedes Him
Knight's journey to Broadmoor began after he attacked a doctor while in the healthcare wing of Bristol prison. A riot team intervened, leading to charges of grievous bodily harm and eventual transfer to a secure hospital in York. There, he learned he would be assessed by two nurses from Broadmoor.
"When I heard those words, I thought: 'That's for people who are unhinged serial killers—not me,'" Knight recalls. He was transported in a secure vehicle, sedated, and admitted to Broadmoor, expecting a brief three-month assessment. However, due to a history of violence toward inmates, patients, and staff in prior institutions, Knight remained inside for a full decade, often subjected to strong sedatives known as "the cosh."
Daily Monotony and Infamous Company
Life in Broadmoor followed a rigid routine: wake-up at 8am, hours in the day room with other patients, and just one hour of outdoor time. Knight describes becoming "anaesthetised" and numb to his surroundings, with boredom that "physically hurt." In the day room, he mingled with criminals like serial killer Danny Gonzalez and cannibal Peter Bryan.
Knight notes that inmates would often see their own cases on the news. "Whoever it was, when their picture came up on the telly, they'd sit there smiling and point at the screen and go, 'There I am! That's me.'"
Notable Inmates: From the Yorkshire Ripper to Terrorists
Peter Sutcliffe, who murdered 13 women between 1975 and 1980, was a constant presence. Knight claims Sutcliffe received frequent visits from "glamorous women," reminiscent of Page 3 models, who would engage him in conversation while he remained unbothered.
Knight also spent time with cannibal Peter Bryan, who had killed a man in Broadmoor in 2004 and expressed a desire to eat him. "A dangerous man, a killer. But he was alright when he was medicated," Knight says, noting that discussing crimes with inmates was taboo.
Among the most memorable was Haroon Rashid Aswat, an Islamist terrorist disciple of Abu Hamza, admitted in 2008. "He was a lunatic. He stands out because he was always crazy, running around," Knight recalls, adding that his removal to seclusion brought temporary peace.
Current Inmates and Institutional Dynamics
Broadmoor's current residents include Jonty Bravery, sentenced to life for throwing a six-year-old boy from the Tate Modern in 2024. Bravery reportedly sleeps on a floor mattress under constant supervision and has assaulted staff. Knight suggests such attacks are rare but severe, and retribution from staff is minimal—usually limited to cold shoulders or disapproving looks.
"Broadmoor is like the final place, there's nowhere else they can send you and nothing more they can do," Knight explains, indicating that inmates know punishments cannot escalate much further.
Surprising Amenities and Restricted Content
Contrary to public expectations, conditions included fish and chips on Fridays, birthday cakes, a Nintendo Wii, books, and a snooker table—which Knight calls "the only enjoyment" he had. However, many items were banned, particularly materials related to Broadmoor or its former patients, like books by Charles Bronson or about the Krays.
Knight was an exception, allowed Bronson's book after striking up a correspondence with the infamous prisoner. "I do think my friend Charlie should be out, there is a case for that, but I don't think he would survive," Knight reflects, suggesting Bronson might struggle with reintegration.
Life After Broadmoor: Reintegration and Reflection
Released in 2012, Knight faced significant challenges adjusting to the outside world. "Coming out of Broadmoor was a culture shock for me, it really hits your system," he says, recalling an incident where he nearly walked into traffic because he couldn't gauge vehicle movement.
Despite these hurdles, Knight has rebuilt his life, marrying in 2015, becoming a stepfather, and anticipating grandchildren. Now living in east London, he has cultivated a social media following and authored a book titled High Security High Risk: Memoirs Of An Ex Broadmoor Patient, sharing his unique perspective on a decade spent among Britain's most dangerous individuals.
