Son held under mental health act after killing mum

Gavin Nash killed his mother Lynette at their home in Tansy Lane, Portishead

A man has been detained indefinitely after killing his mother while in the grip of "acute psychosis".

Gavin Nash, 40, stabbed his 64-year-old mother Lynette multiple times with a kitchen knife at the home they shared in Tansy Lane, Portishead, north Somerset, in June.

Nash, who has a schizoaffective disorder, was initially charged with murder but the prosecution has since accepted his plea of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

He was sentenced earlier at Bristol Crown Court and will be detained indefinitely in a psychiatric unit.

'Out of control'

Prosecutor Richard Posner told the court how Nash's family had expressed concerns about his deteriorating mental health and had sought medical help.

The day before she was killed, Mrs Nash dialled 999 because of concerns about her son, whom she described to the call handler as being "out of control".

Mrs Nash said her son had been threatening towards her and his father Stuart.

She told the operator: “He said he’s going to put a knife inside his dad and rip it down his body.

“But he’s poorly and he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

On the day of the killing, Nash was visited by two members of a community mental health team, who carried out an informal assessment.

“They were concerned about the level of danger that Gavin Nash might pose to the public,” Mr Posner said.

Mr Posner said the family was left with instructions that if his health deteriorated further, they should call police as an emergency.

'I've murdered my mother'

The court heard the fatal attack happened later that afternoon after Nash had fled the family home.

Mrs Nash was attacked while on the phone to her husband to tell him their son had returned.

“Stuart Nash had to listen to Gavin killing his mother,” Mr Posner said.

Mr Posner said the defendant was heard telling his mother that "no-one was coming to save her" and to "stay there".

Mrs Nash told her son he was "scaring" her and to "leave her alone".

Nash later phoned police and said “I’ve murdered my mother".

Officers quickly arrived at the scene and Nash was arrested.

At the time, Neighbourhood Police Ch Insp Adam O'Loughlin said the force had referred itself to the police watchdog because of its prior contact with the family

'I loved my mum'

In a victim impact statement, Stuart Nash said: “It’s very difficult not to blame the police officers or the crisis team for the lack of response, and whilst I try not to blame anyone in particular, I can’t help but going over and over, again and again, the missed opportunities that we all missed to save Lynette and Gavin from the horrific outcome."

David Maunder, defending, said the case was a “dreadful tragedy” for everyone involved and that Nash looked back at the events with a sense of "bewilderment, sadness" and "shame".

In a written note to the judge, Nash said he was "desperately sorry" for his actions and said he often thought "things could have been different if only I'd remained on my medication".

"I loved my mum," he said.

“It is very hard to think that you will not be around any more and that is because of me, even if I was very unwell at the time," he added.

Nash said he hoped his story would "help prevent anything like this happening again”.

'Utterly tragic'

Judge Martin Picton imposed orders under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act, which means Nash will be detained indefinitely in a psychiatric unit and only released when it is safe to do so.

Passing sentence, he described Mrs Nash’s death as “utterly tragic”.

“Your mother loved you, cared for you and wanted to protect and nurture you,” he said.

“Whether and what different decisions should have been made by health professionals and the police who had contact with you in the days leading up to this event will no doubt be a matter of anxious consideration.

“At the very least it is to be hoped lessons will have been learned and nothing can now put right the irreparable damage that has ensued," he added.