Sussex killer missing from secure unit

Dunne attacked Mr Stalker in the belief he was controlling his mind

A paranoid schizophrenic who stabbed a former neighbour to death has gone missing after failing to return to a secure unit in East Sussex.

Police said Steven Dunne, 42, failed to return to Southview Low Secure Unit, Hellingly, at 17:00 BST on Wednesday.

He admitted the manslaughter of Gordon Stalker, 51, on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was detained indefinitely last November.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said he posed a low risk to the public.

Det Insp Rob Morland said Sussex Police were concerned for Dunne's welfare and urged him to get in touch.

"We believe Steven to be in the Brighton area and neighbourhood officers are working with partnership agencies to locate him," he said.

"If you see Steven, please contact police immediately."

Dunne of Chates Farm Court, Brighton, told Lewes Crown Court he believed Mr Stalker was controlling his mind and he could only be freed by killing him.

The pair were neighbours in a shared house Elm Grove, where they were friends and often socialised together.

But Dunne's mental health deteriorated and he began to believe that Mr Stalker was a witch who had captured his soul.

Gordon Stalker had a restraining order banning Dunne from the house they had shared

He stabbed Mr Stalker repeatedly in their communal hallway.

The judge ordered him to be detained under the Mental Health Act.

Dunne was receiving treatment at Southview, near Hailsham.

A spokeswoman for the NHS trust said: "Mr Dunne has been assessed by his clinical team and poses a low risk to himself and to the public.

"However, it is important he takes regular medication and will need to return to hospital as soon as possible."

He is described as white, 5ft 4in tall with short brown hair, blue eyes and of stocky build.

He was wearing a red T-shirt, black trousers and blue trainers.