Friday, December 5, 2014

Schizophrenic 'fascinated with' Peter Sutcliffe detained under Mental Health Act after trying to kill escort


A man obsessed with Peter Sutcliffe who tried to kill an escort in his home was detained indefinitely in a mental hospital today.


Schizophrenic David Andrew Parsons, 21, heard voices commanding him to kill - and still wants to become a serial killer, Teesside Crown Court heard.


He told psychiatrists the voices in his head told him “to kill more prostitutes than Peter Sutcliffe had done”.


Prosecutor Shaun Dodds said Parsons arranged for an escort to come to his Eston home, then attacked her with a hammer.


He hit her repeatedly with a claw hammer and kicked her, but she bravely fought back and screamed until he fled.


He called 999 from a phone box and said “I’ve just tried to kill someone” on the night of June 23.


He told police he had planned the attack for weeks and would have “finished” the woman, but panicked when she screamed.


He said “I’m not even bothered” and showed no remorse for the attack ever since, the court was told today.


The court heard of the ongoing impact on the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons.


She said in a statement: “This has ruined my life and I’ve lost trust in people.”


“When I go to bed the memory is always there.


“I’m still shocked and in disbelief at what’s happened to me.


“He wanted to kill me. I don’t think I will ever get over it.”


Two psychiatrists recommended a hospital order with a restriction order for Parsons, formerly of Brackenfield Court, Eston, who admitted attempted murder.


Dr Pratish Thakkar said Parsons had a fascination with Peter Sutcliffe and wanted to emulate him.


He said Parsons showed no remorse for his crime, needed a lot of supervision and posed a high risk of re-offending in the future.


The psychiatrist added: “He expressed a wish he would like to become a serial killer.”


Robert Mochrie, defending, said Parsons wanted to be sentenced to “a very, very lengthy custodial sentence”.


He said Parsons had no previous convictions and had been “suffering or enduring mental turmoil for most of his life”.


Parsons had not eaten for a week at the time of the attack and had “all the hallmarks of a very unwell person”.


Mrs Justice Simler said Parsons heard hallucinatory voices since he was 14 and came to regard them as “companions”.


She said he would not have committed the offence if it had not been for his mental disorder.


She said the attack had serious psychological consequences and Parsons showed “a callous unconcern for others”.


She told him: “I am satisfied that you clearly have disturbing psychiatric problems and you pose an undoubted risk to others.


“The danger posed by you if you again act on your auditory hallucinations is very severe and potentially lethal.”


She detained Parsons indefinitely with restrictions under Sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act.


He will only be released when he is no longer deemed to pose a danger due to his condition.



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