Hospital order for Nottingham man who stalked and stabbed strangers

Leicester Crown Court was told Junior Dietlin's victims were shocked and distressed by the attacks

A paranoid schizophrenic who stalked and stabbed five "complete strangers" has been detained indefinitely in a secure hospital.

Junior Dietlin approached men walking alone in the dark in Nottingham and Mansfield in Nottinghamshire over four days in February 2023, a court heard.

The 20-year-old stabbed each of his victims once in the arm before fleeing.

Dietlin was detained indefinitely under hospital order at a hearing at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

Stuart Lody, prosecuting, described it as "a most odd and extraordinary case".

"The defendant, under cover of darkness, stalked lone men walking down the street minding their own business," he said.

"His modus operandi was to run up behind them, stab them once on the right bicep, then run away."

Mr Lody said the first attack took place in Nottingham on 8 February, followed by four more on 11 and 12 February in Mansfield before Dietlin was finally arrested.

"On 13 February, police were on high alert," he said.

"Mansfield had flooded with police. He [Dietlin] was seen on an electric scooter. Officers and [a] police dog gave chase and he was arrested."

Mental illness

Dietlin denied five charges of malicious wounding and four of possessing a blade in a public place but was convicted on all counts after a trial at Nottingham Crown Court in August.

The court heard he was being held in a medium secure unit at Wathwood Hospital in Rotherham.

Judge William Harbage, sentencing, said Dietlin, formerly of Ransom Drive, Mapperley, Nottingham, had caused his victims only relatively minor physical injuries but they were left shocked and distressed by the attacks.

He said all the men were "complete strangers" to Dietlin, who did not attend the hearing.

He ordered the defendant should be detained for treatment stipulating he could only be released on the recommendation of a mental health tribunal.

Mr Harbage said "Were it not for his mental illness, a significant sentence of imprisonment would follow."