Many of us will undoubtedly be nestled in with our loved ones this Christmas, tearing open gifts, participating in awkward family photos, and chomping down on a succulent meal.
However, for others, the end-of-year festivities will be looking very different indeed - especially for Robert Maudsley, who has been dubbed Britain's Most Dangerous Prisoner. The now-69-year-old has been languishing in prison since the 1970s, after being convicted of three counts of murder and one count of manslaughter.
Per The Guardian, Maudsley has stated that he only murdered men who were rapists, pedophiles, and sex offenders - given that Maudsley himself was sexually abused and raped by his own father.
His first victim was a man named John Farrell who had picked up Maudsley - who had been a sex worker in London to pay for his drug addiction - for sex and then proceeded to show him images of children he'd sexually abused. Maudsley eventually strangled Farrell to death, before turning himself in to the police and telling them he needed psychiatric care.
His second victim, David Francis, was a convicted child molester whom he murdered in prison after torturing him for nine hours. Salney Darwood, Maudsley's third victim, was in prison for murdering his wife. Maudsley strangled and stabbed him, before stabbing his final victim William Roberts to death soon afterward.
Immediately following the final two murders, Maudsley reportedly turned himself in to prison guards and told them that the evening's roll call would be missing two inmates.
According to LADBible, Maudsley has been in solitary confinement longer than any other inmate in Britain's history, given that he has continually stated that he would murder again if given the chance. He spends 23 hours a day in a bulletproof glass cell beneath the prison, which was designed specifically for him. He remains unable to mix with other prisoners, even on Christmas Day.
In fact, his nephew stated in 2021 that his uncle had asked to be allowed to mingle with the prison's general population, but was flat-out denied.
"He was told no last month but appealed against the decision and wanted to spend Christmas in the presence of other humans. But he's just been told no for the final time. Being alone for that long does something to you. He isn't OK and they cannot take the risk of what he might do. They simply cannot take the risk," he said.
In 2000, Maudsley penned a letter asking for the death penalty, writing: "What purpose is served by keeping me locked up 23 hours a day? Why even bother to feed me and to give me one hour's exercise a day? Who actually am I a risk to?
"As a consequence of my current treatment and confinement, I feel that all I have to look forward to is indeed psychological breakdown, mental illness, and probable suicide. Why can't I have a budgie instead of flies, cockroaches, and spiders which I currently have. I promise to love it and not eat it?" he continued.
"Why can't I have a television in my cell to see the world and learn? Why can't I have any music tapes and listen to beautiful classical music? If the Prison Service says no then I ask for a simple cyanide capsule which I shall willingly take and the problem of Robert John Maudsley can easily and swiftly be resolved," his letter concluded.
