A MAN who repeatedly stabbed his uncle after believing he was conspiring to harm him has been detained in hospital.

Farhad Ahmed, of Erddig Road in Wrexham, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentence on Friday morning, via telephone from a medium secure mental health unit.

The 20-year-old had admitted one offence of wounding with intent at a previous hearing.

John Philpotts, prosecuting, told the court that on September 11 last year, Ahmed turned up at the home of his uncle, Mohammed Shihab Khan, in Wrexham.

After knocking and passing his aunt to enter the home uninvited, the defendant went upstairs.

His eyes appeared "glazed," the court heard, and the defendant himself seemed "agitated."

Mr Khan made to follow the defendant upstairs and find out what was going on.

But after just two steps, Ahmed came back down and started striking his uncle repeatedly.

Mr Khan initially thought he was being punched, but then realised he was "bleeding heavily" as the defendant had attacked him with a knife.

He repeatedly screamed: "I'm sorry, I had to do this," as he carried out the attack.

The victim believed Ahmed was trying to kill him, and fought with him - eventually forcing him to the floor.

The victim's wife appeared and helped to overpower Ahmed.

The knife, which the defendant had brought to the scene with him, was thrown on the floor in a nearby lavatory before later being thrown out into a garden.

Ahmed escaped and fled from the house, while the victim sought help from a neighbour.

Armed police arrived and arrested Ahmed nearby.

He admitted: "I've just stabbed someone."

Mr Philpotts said there had been no previous animosity between the defendant and victim.

In fact, during an earlier part of his life Ahmed had been a regular and happy visitor.

Mr Khan was taken to Stoke Hospital where he was treated for a number of wounds to the back of his head, neck, shoulder and arm.

He was discharged the following day.

Ahmed was assessed by psychiatrists, who all agreed he was suffering from a recognised mental health condition; schizophrenia.

One of the doctors, Justina Akinlua, appeared during the hearing and gave expert evidence.

She told the court she was one of the practitioners involved in the defendant's ongoing care and treatment at Ty Llewellyn Medium Secure Unit.

The court heard Ahmed had been diagnosed in his youth with ADHD.

But it is the view of Dr Akinlua and her colleagues that this was probably the beginnings of schizophrenia.

The doctors who had assessed the defendant agreed he should be made the subject of a hospital and restriction order, both to treat him and to control his discharge from hospital, as well as putting intervention in place should his mental health deteriorate in future.

Maria Masselis, defending, said: "There's little I can say on his behalf.

"It's a sad case; his mental health issues were quite serious and they were missed.

"And now, as a young man, he stands to have this conviction which will serve as a restriction on his future.

"He was interested in being a lawyer. Those opportunities are now lost to him."

Judge Timothy Petts told the defendant: "When you were a teenager, you were diagnosed with ADHD.

"However the view now is it is likely the symptoms you were reporting were part of the onset of schizophrenia which was later to develop.

"The sad fact is you were suffering it at the time of your offending - you believed your uncle and others were conspiring against you to harm you."

The Judge said given that fact, Ahmed's culpability or blame for the offence was low - stating it had been the fault of his psychosis rather than him personally.

Judge Petts imposed a hospital order and a restriction order; meaning the defendant will be detained for treatment at Ty Llewellyn.

He will only be released if and when a mental health tribunal assesses he is safe to be let out and any release will likely be on strict conditions.