‘Extremely dangerous’ prisoner plotted to murder child killers with sharpened toothbrushes – including Sarah Payne killer Roy Whiting
The court heard how weapons made from sharpened toothbrushes were found in Neil Preece-Smith's cell at Wakefield prison
An 'extremely dangerous' prisoner planned to murder one of Britain's most notorious child killers by using sharpened toothbrushes, a court heard.
Arsonist Neil Preece-Smith confessed to the court that he intended to use them on high-profile sex offenders including fellow prisoner Roy Whiting.
Whiting is serving a life sentence in the prison for the abduction and murder of eight-year-old schoolgirl Sarah Payne in July 2000.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Preece-Smith, 32, was found in possession of the weapons at Wakefield Prison, West Yorks, on four occasions in June and July this year, the court heard.
Preece-Smith was interviewed about the incidents and admitted that he had made them and intended to use them on sex offenders in the prison.
He pleaded guilty to four offences of possession of a prohibited article.
In 2006, he was sentenced to life in prison for torching an ex-offenders' hostel as he wanted to kill people staying there. The sentencing judge described him as 'extremely dangerous'.
Later the same year, he was handed a 10-year prison sentence for aiding and abetting his cellmate's suicide at Armley Prison in Leeds, West Yorks.
The serial offender appeared in court via a video link and did not have any legal representation.
He told Recorder Jeremy Barnett that he wished the sentencing to go ahead without having a lawyer.
When asked why he had committed the offences, Preece-Smith replied: "There is a person in Wakefield called Roy Whiting and I have threatened him before."
He added: "If I come into contact with these people, I will carry out my threat but at the moment I am on F-Wing and I have stability.
"Should I come into contact with a sex offender, I will carry out my threat."
Preece-Smith was given a two-year sentence.