The ‘exceptionally dangerous’ killer complained about being ‘put up with paedophiles’
Duncan Heaton has had his sentence extended
A “exceptionally dangerous” convicted murderer from Hull has had his sentence extended by 13 years after trying to kill two fellow inmates in separate prisons. Following the second attack, Duncan Heaton, 53, told prison officers “you guys keep putting us up with f****** paedophiles”.
Heaton was previously handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years in 2014 after fatally stabbing Keith Opray in Bransholme. He received the additional sentence this week but had requested a whole-life tariff, believing he is too dangerous to ever be released from custody.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Heaton, while an inmate at HMP Full Sutton on May 10, 2024, utilised his “low risk” status in the prison kitchen to secure a large knife, which he then used to launch a premeditated attack on fellow inmate Andong Ashu. Heaton lunged at Ashu and caused severe lacerations to the victim’s arms and hands.
Following the attack, Heaton calmly surrendered, expressing a desire to kill Ashu and later labelling him a “grass”. Although the victim believed the attack was racially motivated, the court concluded Heaton’s primary motivation was Ashu’s previous conviction for serious sex offences against a young girl.
The second offence occurred on October 25, 2025, at HMP Wakefield. Heaton entered the cell of David Minto, who was serving a life sentence for a sexually motivated murder, and attacked him with weapons fashioned from plastic and wood. Heaton again surrendered to prison officers, stating he had “done Minto” and admitted he had planned the attack for two weeks because the victim was a sex offender.
The judge, Mr Justice Cotter, noted that Heaton appeared to carry a “warped and misconceived belief” in his moral superiority over such prisoners and posed an exceptional danger to others. In determining the sentence, the judge followed guidelines for high culpability due to the significant planning involved in both attacks.
While Heaton requested a whole life order, citing his own belief that he is too dangerous to ever be released, the court ruled that such an exceptional sentence was not legally justified in this case. However, the judge emphasised that prison-based offences are seriously aggravating as they undermine institutional order and safety.
Heaton was sentenced to life imprisonment for both counts of attempted murder. These sentences are to run concurrently with each other but consecutively to his existing minimum term.
The court imposed an additional minimum term of 13 years, meaning Heaton will not be eligible for parole for at least another 20 years, by which time he will be in his 70s. The judge said a decision whether or not Heaton will ever be safe to be released “will be a matter for the Parole Board”.
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