Britain's Youngest Female Murderer Denied Open Prison Transfer
Justice Secretary David Lammy has intervened to block the transfer of Britain's youngest female murderer to an open prison, citing significant concerns about public safety and the inmate's continued violent behavior. Sharon Carr, who was just 12 years old when she committed the brutal killing over three decades ago, remains deemed too dangerous for less secure conditions.
A Horrific Crime and Disturbing History
In June 1992, Carr stabbed 18-year-old Katie Rackliff more than thirty times as the victim returned home from a nightclub in Farnborough, Hampshire. The murder remained unsolved for four years until Carr was linked to the crime while already detained in a young offenders' institution for a separate stabbing incident in 1994.
Since her incarceration, Carr has demonstrated a persistent pattern of violence. She has attacked multiple fellow inmates and attempted to strangle two nurses while awaiting trial at an assessment centre. These actions have reinforced authorities' view of her as an ongoing threat.
Parole Board Concerns and Psychological Assessment
The Parole Board's ruling summary revealed that Carr continues to exhibit active risk factors, including what documents describe as strong sexual attachments or feelings toward others and an inability to cope with rejection. A prison psychologist specifically opposed her transfer to open conditions, instead recommending a more challenging specialist regime in a closed prison.
Despite Carr's recent admission of guilt and claimed insight into her offending history, the Ministry of Justice has prioritized public protection. A spokesperson stated: Katie Rackliff's murder was a horrific crime, and our thoughts remain with her friends and family. Public protection is our top priority.
Institutional History and Medical Background
Now aged 45, Carr has been moved through multiple high-security facilities:
- Initially held at HMP Holloway
- Transferred to Broadmoor Hospital in June 1998
- Moved to Rampton Hospital in 2007
- Placed in the Orchard Unit in 2008
- Transferred to HMP Bronzefield in 2015 due to risk to patients and staff
- Briefly moved to HMP Low Newton in 2018
- Returned to Bronzefield after a violent incident with another prisoner in August 2019
Carr has been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder and has received antipsychotic medication during her detention. Her sentencing judge originally described her as an extremely dangerous young woman, an assessment that continues to inform her treatment within the penal system.
The Victim and Investigation Details
Katie Rackliff, a cashier from Halifax, was last seen leaving Ragamuffins nightclub in Camberley, Surrey, approximately five miles from where her body was discovered near a cemetery on June 7, 1992. The investigation breakthrough came when police seized Carr's diaries, which contained disturbing entries about the murder.
One particularly chilling diary entry read: I wish I could kill you again. I would make you suffer more. Your terrified screams turn me on. I swear I was born to be a murderer. Killing for me is a mass turn-on and it makes me so high. Every night, I see the Devil in my dreams. This entry contributed to Carr being branded The Devil's Daughter in media reports.
Future Prospects and Legal Context
This represents Carr's fifth parole review since her minimum 12-year sentence expired in 2009. Had her transfer to open prison been approved, it would have potentially paved the way for her full release within two years. Instead, she will remain in closed conditions and be eligible for another parole hearing in two years.
The decision underscores the complex balance between rehabilitation and public protection in cases involving offenders who committed crimes as juveniles but continue to demonstrate dangerous behavior as adults. The Ministry of Justice has made clear that despite any progress Carr may have made in understanding her offenses, her history of institutional violence necessitates continued high-security confinement.
