Teen who stabbed grandmother given hospital order

The family of a teenage boy who fatally stabbed his grandmother before being diagnosed with severe schizophrenia felt they were "let down" by mental health services, a court has heard.

Brandon Skelton attacked Mandy Barnett, 60, with a kitchen knife while she slept at her home in Wortley, Leeds, on 23 October 2023.

On Thursday at Leeds Crown Court, 19-year-old Skelton was made the subject of a hospital order, having pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility last year.

The court heard how his family had tried to have him sectioned under the Mental Health Act in the months before the attack, as their concerns about his behaviour escalated.

Skelton, who was 17 at the time of the offence, was staying with Mrs Barnett and her husband for "respite" as he had a good relationship with them, the sentencing hearing was told.

After spending the night watching television with the victim's husband, Mr Barnett went to join his wife in bed, while Skelton went to his room.

It was said Mr Barnett then heard the teenager pottering around the kitchen and assumed he was making a drink.

However, Skelton then went into the couple's bedroom, walked round to his grandmother's side of the bed and launched what the prosecution described as a "ferocious" attack, stabbing her 12 times.

He then left the house but was arrested by police a short distance away.

The court was told Skelton had been referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) six months before the attack by his family, who tried to have him admitted to a mental health hospital "without success".

It was said that in the months that followed he became "obsessive" and "aggressive", had threatened to stab and strangle individuals, hurt his friends and expressed paranoid thoughts.

Eight days before the killing, Skelton's mum took him to A&E "because he felt he wanted to hurt someone". However, he did not receive help because he had a forthcoming appointment due with a service for people experiencing psychosis for the first time.

At that appointment, on 19 October, it was agreed he would undergo a further assessment with the same service.

Prosecutor Michael Smith said the "family felt let down by their contact with mental health services".

The defendant, who it was said was subsequently diagnosed with "severe and enduring" schizophrenia, watched proceedings in court via a video-link from hospital with a doctor present, but was excused from watching while details of the attack were read out.

Judge Recorder Guy Kearl KC, said Skelton's condition and risk to the public meant it was "not possible to say how long" he would be detained in hospital.

He added that the defendant's mum and family "could have done no more" to try to secure the help he had needed before the attack.

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