Concerns about killer 'not added to health record'

Paul Wells was killed by his neighbour in Highbridge, Somerset, in 2020

Concerns raised about a man who went on to kill his neighbour were not recorded on his mental health record, an inquest has heard.

Richard Matthews, who had severe mental health problems, stabbed his neighbour Paul Wells in Highbridge, Somerset on 25 June 2020.

The inquest into Mr Wells' death heard that at least four attempts to raise concerns about Mr Matthews were not recorded.

Both his housing provider and the police tried to flag their concerns about his mental state to NHS mental health services in Somerset.

In evidence to the inquest in Wells, Dr Andreas Papadopoulos, associate medical director at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Any sort of contact relating to any patient should have been documented."

A housing officer told the inquest on Monday she had also tried to flag concerns about Mr Matthews.

Dr Papadopoulos added the repeated concerns should have triggered "professional curiosity" about "why two different agencies have contacted us about the same person".

Eventually, a concern raised by a police officer triggered a team meeting which raised concerns Mr Matthews was suffering a psychotic episode, after he insisted on talking to the officer through a closed window during a visit to his house.

The NHS emailed Mr Matthews to offer an assessment, and he replied making further allegations of sexual assault and abuse, and claiming his NHS record contained "fraudulent statements" about him.

The inquest heard that an internal NHS investigation found there was no action taken in response to Mr Matthews' e-mail.

Police 'went to house'

Mr Matthews was eventually identified as having delusions, hallucinations and possible emerging paranoid schizophrenia on the day after he had killed Mr Wells. He was detained under the mental health act.

The inquest also heard from a police constable who attended the house at around 10:00 BST on the day of the killing.

Mr Matthews' mother had called police saying she was concerned for her son's welfare and wanted him to be sectioned - after he had sent her abusive messages.

Despite shouting and knocking on his door, the officers who attended could not raise Mr Matthews and left without speaking to him.

Police said they left after around 45 minutes and did not believe they had grounds to force entry into his house.

The inquest continues.