A list of the 10 Most Notable Individuals to Have Lived at Broadmoor Hospital

Broadmoor Hospital, located in Crowthorne within the Borough of Bracknell Forest, Berkshire, England, stands as the most well-known among the three high-security psychiatric institutions in England, the other two being Ashworth and Rampton. Established in 1863 based on Sir Joshua Jebb's design, it spans an area of 210,000 square meters (53 acres) within its secure boundaries. Following the escape of John Straffen in 1952, who tragically killed a local child, the hospital implemented an alarm system. Over the years, it has housed some of the most infamous patients, and this list highlights the 10 most notable among them.

Note: If you're only interested in Charles Bronson, we've dedicated an entire list to the most notorious prisoner in England.

10. Peter Bryan

Peter Bryan is one of the most infamous cannibals in London’s history. In February 2004, the police broke into a flat in Walthamstow to find Bryan covered in blood standing in the hallway. The dismembered body of Brian Cherry lay on the living room carpet, and a small portion of meat was frying in a pan on the stove. When questioned, Bryan casually said, 'I ate his brain with butter; it was really nice.' Yet, this was not Bryan’s first murder—he had committed crimes before and would kill again.

At 18, Bryan had a violent confrontation with a neighbor that resulted in police involvement, which foreshadowed the horror to come. In 1993, after being caught stealing at his job, Bryan returned to the shop with a claw hammer and murdered 20-year-old Nisha Sheth, the shop owner's daughter, in front of her younger brother. He was sent to a psychiatric facility for this crime but was eventually released after being deemed stable. That same night, he killed Brian Cherry.

Bryan confessed that had he not been stopped, he would have killed again, explaining that he 'wanted their souls.' He was sent to Broadmoor, but his murderous streak was not over. In April 2004, Bryan attacked fellow inmate Richard Loudwell in Broadmoor's dining room. Afterward, Bryan remarked, 'I wanted to kill him and then eat him. I didn’t have much time. If I did, I’d have tried to cook him and eat him.' He will remain in Broadmoor under strict security for the rest of his life.

9. Graham Young

Graham Frederick Young is infamous for his obsession with poisons and for committing murder as a teenager, only to kill again after his release. Born in Neasden, North London, he developed an early fascination with poisons and their effects. At the age of 14 in 1961, he began experimenting with poisons on his family, causing them to become violently ill. He amassed significant quantities of antimony and digitalis by repeatedly purchasing small amounts, lying about his age, and claiming they were for school science experiments.

In 1962, Young’s stepmother Molly succumbed to poisoning. During this time, he had also been poisoning his father, sister, and a school friend. His aunt, Winnie, aware of his interest in poisons and chemistry, became suspicious. Although Young sometimes suffered from the same nausea and illness as his family, he occasionally forgot which foods he had poisoned. He was referred to a psychiatrist, who recommended involving the police. Young was arrested on May 23, 1962, and confessed to attempting to murder his father, sister, and friend. Unfortunately, his stepmother’s body could not be examined because she had been cremated.

Young was sentenced to 15 years in Broadmoor but was released after nine years, having been deemed 'fully recovered.' Following his release in 1971, he found work as a storekeeper at John Hadland Laboratories, a company producing thallium bromide-iodide infrared lenses used in military technology. Shortly after starting, his foreman, Bob Egle, fell ill and passed away. Young had been preparing tea laced with poisons for his colleagues, and a sickness spread throughout the workplace, mistakenly believed to be a viral outbreak, later dubbed the 'Bovingdon Bug.' Over the course of a few months, about 70 people fell ill, though none fatally.

Known as the 'Teacup Poisoner,' Young died in prison in 1990. His story was later dramatized in the acclaimed film titled The Young Poisoner’s Handbook.

8. Kenneth Erskine

Erskine was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 40 years. However, after being diagnosed with a mental disorder under the Mental Health Act 1983, he was transferred to Broadmoor Hospital. It is unlikely that he will be released before 2028, when he will be 66 years old. Even 20 years after his sentencing, the trial judge’s recommendation remains one of the most severe ever handed down in British legal history.

In 1996, Erskine made headlines again when he prevented a potential murder. While incarcerated, he alerted prison staff when fellow inmate Paul Wilson attempted to strangle Peter Sutcliffe (the Yorkshire Ripper) using the cord from a pair of stereo headphones.

Erskine's role in stopping the attack on Peter Sutcliffe by Paul Wilson was widely reported in the media. His quick action saved Sutcliffe from a possible death while both men were serving time at Broadmoor.

7. David Copeland

Following his arrest, Copeland revealed to psychiatrists that he had begun experiencing sadistic dreams around the age of 12, which included fantasies where he imagined himself reincarnated as an SS officer with control over women as slaves. He also wrote to BBC correspondent Graeme McLagan, denying a diagnosis of schizophrenia. In his letters, Copeland accused the 'ZOG' (Zionist Occupation Government) of drugging him to suppress his actions. He stated, 'I bomb the blacks, Pakis, degenerates. I would have bombed the Jews as well if I’d got a chance.' When questioned by police about his motives for targeting ethnic minorities, Copeland answered, 'Because I don’t like them, I want them out of this country, I believe in the master race.'

Despite being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia by five psychiatrists and being assessed with a personality disorder by a consultant, Copeland's plea of diminished responsibility was rejected. The prosecution, under pressure, did not accept his guilty plea to manslaughter. On June 30, 2000, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to six concurrent life terms.

The psychological evaluations conducted on David Copeland were central to his case, as they revealed a complex mental state. However, the decision not to accept his diminished responsibility plea left him facing a harsh sentence for his deadly bombing campaign.

6. Peter Sutcliffe

In 1981, Sutcliffe was apprehended by police while with a 24-year-old prostitute. A routine check revealed the car had false plates, and he was arrested for this violation. While in custody at Dewsbury Police Station, West Yorkshire, Sutcliffe became a suspect in the Yorkshire Ripper case due to matching several known physical characteristics. Upon searching the area, police found a knife, hammer, and rope he had discarded during a brief escape attempt. After two days of intensive questioning, Sutcliffe finally confessed to being the Ripper on January 4, 1981. Over the following days, he calmly recounted his attacks, only showing emotion when describing the murder of his youngest victim, Jayne MacDonald.

At his trial, Sutcliffe pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of murder but admitted to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, claiming that he was acting under God's will. He asserted that voices he heard while working as a gravedigger had commanded him to kill prostitutes. According to Sutcliffe, the voices came from the gravestone of a deceased Polish man named Bronislaw Zapolski, and he believed these voices were the voice of God.

Throughout Sutcliffe's incarceration, there have been several attempts on his life by fellow inmates. The first occurred during his time at HMP Parkhurst, when James Costello, a career criminal, attacked Sutcliffe with a broken coffee jar, stabbing him twice in the face. Later, while at Broadmoor, Sutcliffe was nearly strangled (an attack thwarted by Kenneth Erskine) and lost sight in his left eye after being struck with a pen. Sutcliffe died in November 2020 while still in prison.

6. Peter Sutcliffe

5. John Straffen

John Thomas Straffen, a notorious British serial killer, holds the grim distinction of being the longest-serving prisoner in British legal history. In 1951, Straffen murdered two young girls, and following his conviction, he was deemed unfit to stand trial, resulting in his commitment to Broadmoor. However, after escaping briefly in 1952, he killed again. He was convicted of murder, and due to his mental condition, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. Straffen spent over five decades in prison before his death.

At the age of eight, Straffen's behavior led to his referral to a Child Guidance Clinic for issues such as stealing and truancy. By 1939, he was brought before a Juvenile Court judge for stealing a girl's purse, which resulted in a two-year probation sentence. His probation officer found that Straffen couldn't distinguish between right and wrong or comprehend the meaning of probation. Living in overcrowded conditions with a mother unable to provide proper care, Straffen was sent to a psychiatrist, who diagnosed him with a mental defect under the Mental Deficiency Act of 1927. A report in 1940 noted his IQ at 58 and his mental age at six. At 14, Straffen was suspected of strangling two geese, but no evidence was found. At 16, a review showed his IQ at 64, and his mental age was assessed at 9 years and 6 months, leading to his discharge.

In 1951, Straffen's violent actions led to the murders of two young girls, and he was committed to Broadmoor. In 1952, while cleaning some outbuildings, he escaped over a wall, and within two hours, he killed another young girl. This escape and subsequent murder were catalysts for the British government to implement an alarm system at Broadmoor. To this day, the alarm is tested every Monday at 10 am for two minutes, followed by an 'all clear.' The system has speakers spread across Surrey and Berkshire, allowing the alarm to be heard for up to 15 miles in all directions from Broadmoor.

4. Charles Bronson

Charles 'Charlie' Bronson, born Michael Gordon Peterson, is widely regarded as one of the most violent criminals in Britain. Hailing from Luton, England, Michael was known for frequently engaging in fights, which led to a career in bare-knuckle boxing in the East End of London. His boxing promoter, unhappy with his birth name, suggested he adopt the name Charles Bronson.

In 1974, Bronson was sentenced to seven years in prison for robbery. During his time behind bars, his reputation as a loose cannon grew as he frequently clashed with both fellow inmates and prison staff. His violent outbursts lengthened his sentence, leading to his being considered a problematic prisoner. Over the years, he was transferred a staggering 120 times within Her Majesty’s Prison Service, spending most of his time in solitary confinement. What began as a seven-year term ended up stretching to fourteen years, which led to the breakdown of his marriage with Irene, with whom he had a son. Although Bronson was released on October 30, 1988, he was rearrested just 69 days later. Since 1974, he has spent a mere four months and nine days outside of prison. Bronson, one of England's most infamous criminals, has authored several books detailing his experiences and interactions with fellow notorious inmates.

Bronson has been involved in over a dozen hostage situations, including an infamous 47-hour rooftop standoff at Broadmoor in 1983, which caused significant damage amounting to £750,000 (nearly $1.5 million). Throughout his imprisonment, he has been confined to all three of England’s high-security psychiatric hospitals, further solidifying his notorious reputation.

3. Ronald Kray

Ronald Kray and his twin brother Reginald were the infamous leaders of organized crime in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s. Known as Ron or Ronnie, Ronald struggled with paranoid schizophrenia. Together, the Kray twins were involved in a range of criminal activities including armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, violent assaults, and even the murders of Jack 'The Hat' McVitie and George Cornell. As owners of West End nightclubs, they mixed with high-profile entertainers like Diana Dors, Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland, as well as politicians, which gave them a veneer of respectability. By the 1960s, they had achieved celebrity status, frequently appearing in photographs by David Bailey and on television interviews. The Krays became well-known for their violent gang and the chaos they caused in London. They narrowly avoided imprisonment on several occasions and were even drafted for National Service in early 1952, though they deserted multiple times before being captured each time.

During this time, Ron began showing early signs of mental instability. He would often refuse to eat, shave only one side of his face, and experience severe mood swings, sitting silently for hours before erupting into fits of violent rage. On one occasion, he climbed into the rafters of a prison and, despite his brother Reggie's pleas, refused to come down for six hours. It remains unclear whether this was another prank to irritate the guards or if Ron was truly losing his mental balance. Guards at the Canterbury military holding prison were convinced he was dangerously psychotic.

The Krays were finally arrested in May 1968, following a dedicated investigation led by Detective Superintendent Leonard 'Nipper' Read. In 1969, they were both convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Ronnie was later certified insane and spent the rest of his life in Broadmoor, where he died of a heart attack on March 17, 1995, at the age of 61. His funeral on March 29, 1995, was a major event, with crowds lining the streets. Reggie, on the other hand, was released from prison on compassionate grounds in August 2000, just weeks before his death from cancer.

2. Daniel M’Naghten

Daniel M’Naghten, a Scottish woodturner, is infamous for the assassination of Edward Drummond, an English civil servant, while suffering from paranoid delusions. His actions and the subsequent trial introduced the legal definition of criminal insanity, known as the M’Naghten Rules, which have shaped legal proceedings in England and other common law jurisdictions.

In 1840, M’Naghten sold his woodturning business and spent two years in London and Glasgow. During his time in Glasgow in 1841, he expressed to various individuals, including his father, the local police commissioner, and a Member of Parliament, that he was being relentlessly persecuted by the Tories and followed by their spies. Despite his claims, no one took him seriously, dismissing him as delusional. In January 1843, M’Naghten was seen acting suspiciously near Whitehall in London. On January 20th, Edward Drummond, the Prime Minister’s private secretary, was walking from Charing Cross to Downing Street when M’Naghten approached him, pulled out a pistol, and shot him at close range in the back. A police constable subdued M’Naghten before he could use a second weapon.

The morning after the assassination attempt, M’Naghten appeared in Bow Street Magistrates’ Court, where he briefly explained his actions. In his statement, he claimed that persecution by the Tories had driven him to commit the act: 'The Tories in my native city have compelled me to do this. They follow, persecute me wherever I go, and have entirely destroyed my peace of mind... It can be proved by evidence. That is all I have to say.'

1. Richard Dadd

Richard Dadd was a renowned English artist from the Victorian era, famous for his intricate depictions of fairies and other supernatural themes, as well as his Orientalist scenes and mysterious genre pieces. Many of his most famous works were created while he was confined to Broadmoor hospital.

In 1842, Sir Thomas Phillips, the former mayor of Newport, invited Dadd to join him as his draftsman on an expedition across Europe, including Greece, Turkey, Palestine, and Egypt. During their time in Palestine, the duo spent two exhausting weeks traveling from Jerusalem to Jordan and back through the wilderness of Engaddi. By December, while traveling up the Nile River by boat, Dadd experienced a dramatic shift in personality. He became increasingly delusional, violent, and convinced that he was under the influence of the Egyptian god Osiris. Initially, his condition was thought to be caused by sunstroke.

Upon his return in the spring of 1843, Dadd was diagnosed with mental instability and taken to recuperate in the peaceful village of Cobham, Kent. However, by August, he became convinced that his father was the Devil in disguise, and in a fit of rage, Dadd killed him with a knife before fleeing to France. On his way to Paris, he attempted to kill another traveler with a razor, but was subdued and arrested by the police. Dadd confessed to the murder of his father and was returned to England, where he was committed to the criminal department of Bethlem psychiatric hospital (also known as Bedlam). It was here, and later at the newly established Broadmoor hospital, where Dadd was cared for and encouraged to continue his painting.

It is likely that Dadd suffered from a form of paranoid schizophrenia. His family history suggests a genetic predisposition to mental illness, as two of his siblings experienced similar conditions, and a third had an unexplained need for a private attendant.