Patricia Hewitt, 42, Killed Angela Lloyd, 56, in Her Sheltered Home Hours After Suspended Sentence

Patricia Hewitt, 42, inflicted 47 stab wounds on Angela Lloyd, 56, at her sheltered accommodation bungalow in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, on 13 August last year. Teesside Crown Court was told Hewitt had a documented history of mental illness, drug abuse and criminal convictions. Hewitt denied murder but admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, a plea accepted after review by three psychiatrists.

On Wednesday, she was handed a hospital order, which the judge said would ensure long-term public safety. Lloyd's family expressed disappointment, saying there should be a penal element. The court heard Hewitt had been arrested the day before for punching a woman, pleaded guilty, and received a suspended sentence.

Later, PCSOs spoke to her after a report she tried to enter a garden, and she left after a Morrisons worker confronted her for attempting to steal wine. Minutes later, Lloyd made three calls to a Care Connect alarm service, screaming that she had an intruder and was being stabbed.