Mentally ill man launched savage attack on Wolverhampton neighbour
A mentally ill man who launched a savage, unprovoked attack on a Wolverhampton neighbour has been ordered to be detained indefinitely under a medium secure hospital regime.
Violence flared after Joseph Hateley called on Philip Raynor, whom he had lived alongside for six years, on May 8 last year, a judge heard.
"There had not been any issues between the pair as far as Mr Raynor was concerned, " said Mr Matthew Brook, prosecuting, at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
The defendant appeared agitated, asked if there was a dog in the flat and was told that a puppy had spent the night at the address in Jonesfield Crescent, Moseley, and was due to be collected later the same day.
Hateley left but returned soon afterwards and when asked what the problem was, he replied: 'I will show you,' the court heard.
Wrestled
The 59-year-old defendant produced a knife from behind his back and repeatedly tried to stab Mr Raynor in the neck and stomach as the pair wrestled on the doorstep.
Hateley, who had drunk five pints, warned: "You deserve to died for what you have put me through" but the victim managed to grab the hand in which the knife was held and knock the glasses off the face of his attacker who fled.
Mr Raynor was taken to hospital with two puncture wounds to the neck, slash wounds to the temple, left ear and chin together with defensive injuries to a hand, continued the prosecutor who concluded: "They were not deep wounds."
The defendant walked into the front office of a police station, announced he had stabbed a neighbour because he had 'had enough of him' and was arrested.
Hateley, who moved to Lichwood Road, Wednesfield after the incident, admitted wounding with intent but had been suffering from hallucinations, the court was told.
Mr Neil Gerrity, defending, said: "He is somebody who requires treatment in hospital for a recognised mental health disorder."
Judge Amjad Nawaz observed: "It was only by dint of good fortune that Mr Raynor did not suffer more serious injury. It must have been a terrifying experience for him."
He ordered that Hateley be detained in a suitably secure hospital for treatment and only be released back into the community when doctors and the Home Secretary felt it was safe to do so. He would be carefully monitored if, and when, set free, it was said.
