A MENTALLY ill man who mounted a horrific knife attack at the Herefordshire flats where he lived has been detained indefinitely under a secure hospital order.

Richard Farr, urged on by voices in his head, slashed Paul Dabin with a knife as he returned to Stretford Court, Monkland, Leominster, from his caravan parked in the grounds.

Mr Dabin managed to escape to a house despite being chased by Farr and was treated in hospital for cuts to his neck, chest and an arm.

Farr, a 30-year-old schizophrenic, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in June. The case had been adjourned for psychiatric reports.

His not guilty plea to attempted murder was accepted by the prosecution at Worcester Crown Court.

Judge Michael Mott told him he should only be released when psychiatrists considered it safe and thereafter needed to be closely supervised.

Farr is being treated at Reaside Clinic in Birmingham and is said to be responding to medication.

Prosecutor Stuart Clarkson said the two men had been talking amicably in a kitchen on October 29 last year before Mr Dabin left to fetch some candles.

But Farr, who suddenly flew into a frenzy, confronted him on his way back and lunged at him with a knife.

Mr Dabin felt a pain in his chest but escaped over a gate. He then felt another blow to his head and heard Farr shout: "This is not a very good knife."

Farr gave himself up to police in Grimsby four days later.

Mr Clarkson said the defendant wrongly believed Mr Dabin was seeing a woman he was friendly with, which provoked jealousy.

Farr said voices in his head ordered him to stab the victim, although he had no wish to kill him.

Defence counsel Monica Pirotta said Farr had led a chaotic life aggravated by drink and drug abuse. Some were prescription drugs given to him to relieve paranoia.

He resisted the voices for some time but eventually gave in to a persecution mania.

"He was alarmed at what he was capable of doing and is sorry for the consequences," she added.

Psychiatrist Rosemary Cope said he was making good progress in Reaside and gave cause for optimism about his future mental health.

Unfortunately he had not sought psychiatric help in the past and now needed long-term treatment.