Paedo rapist, 45, tried to kill cellmate, 72, for ‘farting, coughing and loud night breathing’

Christopher Sweeney, 45, leapt from his top bunk at HMP Nottingham and pressed a pillow over the face of his 72-year-old cellmate, Martin Whittle, holding it there for about a minute before being fought off

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A convicted child rapist tried to murder his cellmate after becoming furious with the man’s persistent coughing, snoring and wind-breaking. Christopher Sweeney, 45, jumped from his top bunk at HMP Nottingham and forced a pillow over the face of his 72 year old cellmate, Martin Whittle, keeping it there for approximately a minute before being repelled.

When prison officers were informed of the incident and questioned him about it, Sweeney accepted responsibility, declaring: “Yeah, it’s all true,” and revealed that he had meant to kill him. Sweeney subsequently also admitted to police several crimes dating back to 2016 for which he had never faced prosecution.

These included an attempted knifepoint robbery at Burton Road Convenience Store in Derby, plus a separate attempted robbery in the city’s Cavendish area, reports the Express. In the second incident, he hid a hammer in a bag and told the victim it was an imitation firearm.

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Imposing an 18-year sentence, Judge Nirmal Shant KC said: “You were unrepentant and told people you wanted him dead. You said he was ‘a farting, snoring and coughing horrible man’.

“You were completely candid and frank with the police and in the course of the inquiries you disclosed other offences which otherwise might not have been detected.”

Katrina Wilson, prosecuting, said the attempted murder occurred in the cell Sweeney and Mr Whittle had occupied for merely eight days and Mr Whittle “was frightened trying not to make any noise”. She revealed that at approximately 2.30am, the victim was struggling to sleep when the defendant, positioned on the top bunk, warned him, “If you wake me up again, you will be sorry.”

The prosecutor explained: “Mr Whittle was frightened trying not to make any noise, but he was sleeping on a noisy air mattress.” At roughly 7am, the defendant leapt down from the upper bunk, turned around and pressed his pillow over Mr Whittle’s face.

He applied force for about a minute, and following a struggle, Mr Whittle managed to push him off.

“The defendant sat down and asked if he could have a go on his vape, saying ‘I guess you are going to tell the officers?’ to which Mr Whittle replied ‘you’ll have to wait and see’.”

Miss Wilson stated the victim reported the incident and Sweeney confessed “it’s all true, I wanted to kill him because of his farting, coughing and snoring”.

She noted that whilst being questioned about the offence, the defendant also admitted to the 2016 robbery and attempted robbery in Derby, plus a burglary at the Bunk Bar in Derby city centre in 2024.

Sweeney, of Derby, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, attempted robbery, possession of a knife, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and burglary. He has a lengthy criminal record, with 37 previous court appearances for 71 offences, including wounding, arson, robbery and burglary.

In 2003, he was incarcerated for raping a boy under the age of 16 and has at least 16 convictions for breaching the terms of being on the sex offender register. He has spent most of the past 23 years in prison.

Steve Cobley, defending, stated: “Sometimes it is counterintuitive when dealing with a case so serious to say very much. The offences were admitted to the prison staff, and without him admitting the 2016 offences, it is unlikely the police would have detected them, and that may offer the victims some finality.

“It is tragic that prison life is preferable to him than the alternative of homelessness and substance abuse.”

The sentence includes 13 years’ imprisonment and a five-year extended licence due to his dangerousness.

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