Boy stabbed by missing patient

Gary Grey failed to return from an hour's unescorted leave

A man held by police in connection with the stabbing of a 12-year-old boy had absconded from a psychiatric hospital.

The boy was stabbed four times in front of police officers on Monday evening in the doorway of a house in Warbler Close, Southampton.

He had been abducted at knifepoint as he played with friends in woodland behind the house at around 1715 BST.

A spokesman for the West Hampshire Health Authority confirmed on Tuesday that 23-year-old Gary Grey had been a patient at the Ravenswood medium secure unit at Fareham since 1999.

Gary has been responding well to treatment and was being prepared for discharge

Martin Barkley,
NHS Trust spokesman

The knife missed all major organs, and the boy is said to be recovering well in hospital.

Martin Barkley, of the West Hampshire NHS Trust, said Mr Grey disappeared during a one-hour unescorted leave period.

He said that as soon as Mr Grey became overdue at 1600 BST, a search was carried out and the police called.

Mr Barkley said: "I should like to begin by saying that our thoughts are with the young boy and his family at this very difficult time.

Attempted murder

"I can confirm that Gary Grey has been a patient at Ravenswood House since November 1999.

"Over the past three-and-half years, Gary has been responding well to treatment and was being prepared for discharge into a rehabilitation in-patient unit in Southampton."

He said Mr Grey had been taking unescorted leave for more than a year.

"Decisions about unescorted leave and about suitability for discharge are made by the Home Office based on the recommendations and results of continuous risk assessments by clinical staff and the multi-disciplinary team.

"A review into the circumstances surrounding yesterday's events is now under way."

'Escorted leave'

A spokesman for the Home Office said it was a "tragic and regrettable" event.

He said: "It's important to bear in mind in this instance that he had not been released into the community, he had absconded.

"A period of escorted leave commenced in November 2001, to test the patient's ability to adjust to life in the community.

"After a regular and thorough risk assessment, the period of unescorted leave began in January 2003."

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Duncan, who is leading the inquiry, said he was investigating an attempted murder.

He urged witnesses to come forward.