A convicted paedophile who was serving an indefinite sentence for the brutal knifepoint rape of a teenager in Crystal Palace Park has died in prison following fresh allegations of sexual assault.
Roy King, 61, was found guilty in 2007 of raping an 18-year-old man at knifepoint after luring him with an offer of shelter. King had a long history of sexual offences, including crimes against children. He was handed an Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP), a punishment that kept dangerous offenders behind bars until deemed safe for release.
Although IPP sentences were abolished in 2012, King remained one of more than 2,000 prisoners still incarcerated under the scheme.
Prison Death After New Allegation
King was being held at HMP Littlehey, a Cambridgeshire prison housing sex offenders, when he died on January 30, 2023. Just three days earlier, another inmate accused King of sexually assaulting him.
Following the allegation, King was moved to a different wing, stripped of his prison job, and placed under disciplinary review. During a conversation with a prison officer, King vehemently denied the accusations, shouting: “I know you lot are going to believe that liar.”
That same day, he took an overdose of in-possession medication and was later taken to hospital, where he died three days later.
An inquest later concluded King’s death was due to “misadventure”, determining that while he had deliberately taken the overdose, there was no clear intention to end his life.
Ombudsman’s Criticism
A report from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) criticised the prison’s response, highlighting a failure to initiate suicide and self-harm monitoring, despite King’s known history of self-harming after disciplinary actions.
“Mr King had a history of repeated self-harm following inappropriate behaviour, when he lost his job or after staff told him to do something he did not want to do,” the PPO said.
“Although this was clearly recorded in his prison records, staff did not consider starting ACCT monitoring, which would likely have led to consideration of removing Mr King’s in-possession medication.”
A clinical review also found significant failings by healthcare staff, with two nurses referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council for their conduct.
The sexual assault allegation that preceded King’s death was referred to Cambridgeshire Police, but the case was closed after his death.
Crystal Palace Park Attack
In July 2006, King befriended an 18-year-old man who had missed his last train and offered him a place to stay. Instead, he took the victim to a secluded area of Crystal Palace Park, where he raped and sexually assaulted him at knifepoint.
King was arrested the next day and initially denied the attack. Faced with forensic and CCTV evidence, he later claimed the sexual encounter had been consensual. A jury unanimously convicted him of rape and sexual assault.
At sentencing, the court heard that King had 11 previous convictions for 25 offences, nine of which were sexual and included serious crimes against young children.
Ongoing Debate Over IPP Sentences
King’s death reignites debate around the controversial IPP sentencing system, which critics argue has created a population of prisoners effectively serving life terms without clear pathways to release.
Despite its abolition, hundreds remain imprisoned under IPP, raising ongoing concerns about mental health, prison safety, and fairness in sentencing.
This article contains references to sexual violence. If you or someone you know has been affected, help is available. Contact Rape Crisis on 0808 802 9999 or visit www.rapecrisis.org.uk.
