Police 'given warning about killer'

Officers were reportedly told Leslie Gadsby was "going to hurt someone" in a tip-off seven days before the 38-year-old was arrested on suspicion of the murder of his mother, Edna.

Mrs Gadsby, 70, was found stabbed to death at his flat in Stoneycroft, Liverpool on Tuesday.

Her son has since been sectioned under the Mental Health Act for a second time. He killed his father in a frenzied hammer attack in 2004.

Officials have not said when he was released from mental hospital back into the community.

Yesterday a spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said a "risk assessment" had been carried out following the call about Gadsby and confirmed the force had referred the incident to police watchdogs the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

A woman called police on March 23, after Gadsby allegedly turned up unannounced and "agitated" at her parents' home in Bootle. Gadsby is alleged to have pestered the woman years before after picking her up in his taxi.

He reportedly handed over bags of clothing and a cheque for 7,500.

The woman, who was not at the address, reportedly told police: "He's going to hurt someone."

Gadsby gave his address and asked the woman's parents to get her to visit him.

A spokesman for the force said yesterday: "Merseyside Police can confirm that it has voluntarily referred its response to an incident in Bootle last week to the IPCC.

"The incident took place on Tuesday March 23 when the force received a call about a 38-year-old man behaving strangely.

"Officers visited the woman who made the call and a risk assessment was made and the incident was recorded in line with force policy."

Gadsby was first sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 2004 after he admitted the manslaughter of his father, Arthur, 63, in a frenzied attack involving a claw hammer.

He also admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on his mother, who suffered a fractured skull in the earlier attack but survived.

Following his conviction he was sectioned and detained under the Mental Health Act.

Local health officials have launched an "adverse incident" inquiry following the latest incident.

Mersey Care NHS Trust executive director Neil Smith said: "As the police investigation is ongoing, it is inappropriate for the trust to comment in any detail.

"However, we extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased woman at this very difficult time. We can confirm that an adverse incident review process began immediately and is continuing."

Police found Mrs Gadsby's body as they searched her son's home following an arson attack at a separate address.

Emergency crews had been called to a property in Belle Vale, Liverpool, on Tuesday night after reports of a blaze.

Firefighters extinguished the flames and no one was hurt in the incident but Gadsby was arrested nearby on suspicion of arson.

When officers searched his home, they found his mother's body.

Gadsby admitted the February 2004 attack on his parents at Liverpool Crown Court in October that year. On the day of the incident he had been due to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital after suffering depression.

He began the attack by smashing ornaments but later calmed down and apologised to his mother, the court was told.

After killing his father, he told his mother he loved her and then struck her repeatedly with a spanner.

Gadsby was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order and sent to the Scott Clinic psychiatric unit in Rainhill, St Helens.