Somerset psychiatric patient jailed for deadly attack

SOMERSET PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT JAILED FOR DEADLY ATTACK

A man named David Parish, who had recently escaped from a secure psychiatric facility, was found guilty of killing 86-year-old Beryl Purdy in her Somerset home.

He broke into her house in March 2023 and used a golf umbrella to assault her to death, a tragic event that has shocked the local area.

Parish was sentenced to six years in prison after initially admitting to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

It was explained in court that he was experiencing a paranoid schizophrenia psychotic episode at the time, which was linked to cannabis use, leading to a significant reduction in his capacity for self-control and judgment.

Previously, Parish had been detained under the mental health act following an incident where he brandished a samurai sword at his parents' residence, but he was released the next day.

Further, he put public safety at risk by attempting to pull a man from a moving vehicle at Fyne Court before entering Mrs.

Purdy's home and causing her death.

As a consequence, the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is examining their security measures, and police investigations into Parish's escape are ongoing.

His prior mental health issues and recent actions have raised questions about community safety and the effectiveness of current mental health security protocols.