Sheffield man who killed parents sent to secure hospital

Mary and Bryan Andrews were killed at their house in Totley in November

A man has been sent to a secure hospital after he admitted killing his parents at their home in Sheffield.

James Andrews, 52, pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court in April to the manslaughter of Mary and Bryan Andrews by reason of diminished responsibility after denying their murder.

The couple, aged 76 and 79, were found fatally stabbed at their house in Terrey Road, Totley, on 27 November.

Andrews, of Reney Avenue, Greenhill, was given an indefinite hospital order.

The court heard Andrews attacked his parents with a German bayonet during a "psychotic episode", stabbing his mother 82 times and leaving his father with multiple injuries.

Andrews told officers who arrested him using a Taser to restrain him: "I just killed my mum and dad."

David Brooke KC, prosecuting, told the court that Andrews, who was known to his family as Duncan, later said he had been hearing voices for months and that "God had made him do what he had done".

In a victim statement read to the court, one of his sisters Sally Andrews said her brother had waited for more than two years to get mental health support, adding the family were "victims of a broken health and social service".

"We believe this very much contributed to the outcome on that fateful day," she said.

"Where were the mental health team or epilepsy liaison team?"

She added: "In the absence of these professionals our family paid the ultimate price.

"My parents sacrificed their lives so he could get a diagnosis of a 'serious mental illness' - something we had been trying to get them to acknowledge for some time."

James Andrews was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court

Both sisters told the court they were very concerned for the safety of their children if their brother was ever released.

Passing sentence, Mrs Justice Mary Stacey said: "You killed both your parents who loved you and cared for you, and who you loved.

"You need treatment, not punishment for these crimes."