Mentally ill man attacks mum's partner with knife (From This Is Wiltshire)

Mentally ill man attacks mum's partner with knife

7:20am Friday 10th July 2009 in

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A paranoid schizophrenic who attacked his mother’s partner with a kitchen knife has been made subject of a hospital order.

Joseph Aissaoui, of no fixed abode, left his victim with three cuts to his neck and chin after attacking him in his bed at his home in The Down, Trowbridge, and accusing him of ‘working for the police’.

And when he was questioned by police, the 34-year-old told officers he attacked Tayeb Sayeh because he had made him ‘carry a bomb through Trowbridge town centre’.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court on Tuesday how Aissaoui phoned his mother Rahma on Thursday, July 24 last year asking if he could go round.

She said Mrs Aissaoui had been in a relationship with Mr Sayeh for eight years and her son had been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic in 1996.

During the phone call she realised he was unwell and told him they would pick him up and take him to get some medication at Red Gables in Hilperton Road, which is run by the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

After getting a prescription they went to a pharmacy only to be told they could not get the drugs until the next morning.

Miss Marlow said Mr Sayeh went to bed, as he works as a taxi driver, while Aissaoui was becoming more aggressive.

At about 3am Mr Sayeh was woken by the defendant brandishing a kitchen knife and accusing him of working for the police and saying he wanted to kill him.

Mr Sayeh pushed him away after suffering the three cuts and called for Mrs Aissaoui who pushed away her son, who then fled into the garden where he was later arrested.

As a result of the attack, Mr Sayeh suffered a 3cm skin flap and 2cm and 1.5cm lacerations.

Aissaoui pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and common assault.

Ales Daymond, defending, said his client had mental health problems and was best treated by a hospital order rather than jail.

Although doctors recommended he also be subject to a restriction order controlling his release and how he lived in the community, Mr Daymond said it was not needed.

He said when his client took his medication he did not pose a threat of serious harm to the public.

But the court heard from forensic psychologist Dr Nicola Claxton who recommended the order.

Judge William Hart said he was satisfied that it was necessary to not only impose a hospital order but also a restriction order.