The Chilling Saga of Stephen Griffiths: From 'Crossbow Cannibal' to Targeted Inmate

The name Stephen Griffiths still sends a shiver down the spine, conjuring images of unimaginable horror. Known infamously as the 'crossbow cannibal', Griffiths terrorized Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 2009 and 2010 with a string of gruesome murders that shocked Britain and indeed, the world. He admitted to killing three women – Suzanne Blamires, Shelley Armitage, and Susan Rushworth – dismembering their bodies, and, chillingly, consuming parts of their flesh. It was a case that plumbed the depths of human depravity, a truly disturbing chapter in modern criminal history.

His reign of terror was short-lived but incredibly brutal. Griffiths, who bizarrely referred to himself as an 'alien hunter', used a crossbow in some of his attacks, a detail that only added to the macabre nature of his crimes. The discovery of his horrifying acts, particularly his admission to cannibalism and the chilling way he meticulously documented some of his atrocities, sent shockwaves through the community and left an indelible scar on the collective psyche. In December 2010, justice, in a manner of speaking, was served when he was handed a whole-life tariff, meaning he would never be released from prison. A fate certainly deserved, many would argue.

Yet, for someone like Griffiths, a life behind bars is far from peaceful, despite the supposed security of high-risk facilities like Wakefield and Frankland prisons. It seems his monstrous reputation precedes him, even amongst the most hardened criminals. Tales have emerged over the years detailing the frequent and often vicious attacks he endures from fellow inmates. These aren't just minor scuffles; we're talking about brutal assaults that have left him with significant injuries, highlighting the grim, unforgiving reality of life for a notorious child killer and cannibal in the UK prison system.

One notable incident, for instance, saw him suffer a serious beating, including a broken nose and cuts, at the hands of another prisoner. In another, even more disturbing event, he was reportedly stabbed in the eye with a makeshift spike, leading to fears he might lose his sight. It’s almost as if other inmates view attacking him as a twisted form of justice or a way to earn a macabre kind of street credit within the prison walls. Whatever the motivation, it underscores the fact that some crimes are so heinous, so utterly beyond the pale, that even in the tightly controlled environment of a maximum-security prison, the perpetrator remains a pariah, a target for violent retribution.

So, while Stephen Griffiths serves out his life sentence, the horror he inflicted upon his victims and their families continues to resonate. And for him, it appears, the punishment extends beyond mere incarceration. His existence is a constant reminder of his unspeakable acts, played out in the brutal confines of prison life, where the 'crossbow cannibal' is now, ironically, often the hunted. It’s a stark, unsettling picture, a testament to the enduring revulsion his crimes provoke, even more than a decade later.