Woman who stabbed nurse is detained

Rebecca Jackson, 20, of Aston Terrace, Bramley, Leeds was found to be unfit to stand trial accused of attempting to murder trainee nurse Tanya Mitcham on April 18 last year but a jury found she had committed the act charged.

Yesterday at Leeds Crown Court a psychiatrist said Jackson suffers from an emotionally unstable personality disorder which means she poses a risk to the public, particularly her mother whom she thought she was stabbing at Leeds Bus Station. She also suffers from Usher Syndrome which affects her sensory functions leaving her almost blind, hard of hearing and unstable in her movements.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC made a hospital order under sections 37 and 41 without time limit under the Mental Health Act. Miss Mitcham, 21 from Wakefield was unable to continue with her nurse’s training because of her injuries.