Man stabbed woman 50 times 'because she brought devil into his home'
A delusional man who stabbed a woman more than 50 times because he believed she had brought the devil into his home was starting an eight-year custodial sentence today.
Dennis Hibbert met Natalia Jones as she walked down Messenger Road, Smethwick, and invited her back to his address in nearby Bideford Road where both took drugs, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
That aggravated his delusional beliefs and prompted him to suddenly declare: "Get the devil off my back."
He told Ms Jones: "You have brought the devil with you. You are evil," revealed Mr Andrew Baker, prosecuting.
The 48-year-old defendant grabbed a pair of scissors and rained blows down on the woman who was stabbed 20 times in the left arm, had 15 wounds in the right arm and 16 in the face, continued the prosecutor.
The victim was also wounded in the stomach, legs and chest, the latter resulting in both her lungs being punctured, the court heard.
Then Hibbert started reading extracts from the Bible while stamping on the victim from head to foot as she pleaded to be allowed to leave, disclosed Mr Baker.
Mr Gurdeep Garcha, defending, said Hibbert had made significant progress during months of treatment at a clinic dealing with people suffering severe mental health problems following his arrest after the frenzied attack on May 2 last year and is clear of drugs.
The lawyer added: "Those treating him now envisage a time when the defendant will be well enough to be moved to a prison environment."
He continued: "The victim is a drug addict and very vulnerable but he has very limited previous convictions and no history of serious violence."
Hibbert admitted wounding with intent and was locked up by Judge Amjad Nawaz who told him: “You came across Natalia Jones in a street and , however it came about, she ended up at your accommodation.
"Drugs were used and you lost your self control. You suffer from delusional beliefs which are exaggerated by the drugs.
“You picked up scissors and launched an unprovoked attack. Not all the injuries were serious but when you look at the number and where they took place there was little of her body which had not been injured.
"The force of the stab wounds to her chest punctured both lungs. She made a recovery and did not require surgery but that was no thanks to you.”
Hibbert was made the subject of a hospital order which allows him to return to the mental health clinic until he is well enough for transfer to prison to complete the sentence.
If that does not happen he will only be released into the community when those treating him say it is safe to do so.
