A 20-year-old young man who was sentenced to life in prison in March 2020 for stabbing to death his 18-year-old Grindr date, was “secretly” moved to a mental hospital after spending only two hours in jail! Brian Healless was found guilty of murder by the Preston Crown Court and handed down a minimum sentence of 24 years in jail for stabbing Alex Davies 128 times in April 2019.
The victim’s mother, Beverly Davies, 56, was in shock upon recently learning that Healless was transferred on the same day of his sentencing to a medium security psychiatric hospital. According to the BBC, the government has apologised for not "promptly" informing the victim’s mother of the transfer. Prior to his court conviction, Healless was treated at Guild Lodge Hospital in Preston and was returned there on the day of his sentencing, upon the request from the doctor who was overseeing his care.
A letter from Alex Chalk MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, informed the victim’s mother that officials relied on assessments from four independent psychiatrists who confirmed that Healless continued to suffer from a mental disorder and required in-hospital treatment.
"I was told he was off to prison and it was only weeks after, when the Probation Service got in contact with me, and I was told he was only in prison for the two hours and then he was swept back to Guild Lodge,” the victim’s mother said. "The intentions of the judge in his sentencing remarks have been subverted,” she added.
Chalk, on the other hand, said the same day transfer was not usual however, it is also not a matter for the sentencing judge and "did not in any way subvert the life sentence he had passed". The victim’s mother believes Healless is feigning his illness and if indeed he is diagnosed to be unwell, she questions why he is being treated at Guild Lodge. "He is so dangerous. Why is he not in a high secure hospital?”
Chalk reiterated that Healless was a "restricted patient" and the clinicians had assessed a medium secure facility was appropriate for his treatment taking in regard “his mental disorder and the risk he presents to others.”
Meanwhile, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said that prisoners may be transferred for treatment in mental health hospitals but will be returned to serve their sentence in prison once expert clinicians have assessed they are fit to do so.
Healless, who originally hails from Chorley, previously pleaded to a partial mental health defense in March 2020. He was charged with the murder of Alex Davies whom he had met on Grindr and had lured him to a meet-up. Court documents said the victim was openly gay, however, the suspect admitted to his victim that he was “not out yet” and suggested a discreet spot where they could meet.
Davies was stabbed 128 times at the top of Parbold Hill and was dragged face down by his collar in the mud while he was still alive and breathing. Healless covered his body with branches and leaves and left him for dead. He was captured on CCTV calmly riding his bike away from the scene with Davies’ rucksack on his back.
Healless' mental health defense was rejected by jurors with the judge branding him as manipulative and devious as he still met with 4 other men through the gay dating app after killing Davies.
