Andrew Seal, from Bridgend, stabbed Gwilym Jones, 73, and Bridie Jones, 21, on May 15 in two separate attacks at Oxford Court flats in Ogmore Vale
A man who stabbed a pensioner to death and tried to kill a young mother after suffering a psychotic episode has been jailed for life.
Andrew Seal, from Bridgend , was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to manslaughter and attempted murder.
The 49-year-old stabbed Gwilym Jones, 73, and Bridie Jones, 21, on May 15 in two separate attacks at the Oxford Court flats in Ogmore Vale.
Seal claimed that Ms Jones had spread a rumour that he was a paedophile and also claimed that Mr Jones (no relation), known locally as “Fruitbat”, had attacked his nephew.
The court heard there was no evidence for either accusation.
Before the attacks, Seal had written a “revenge planner” where he wrote down the names of people he wished to kill, as well as notes headed “Sunday Bloody Sunday”.
At around 10.30pm on May 15, Ms Jones was at home with her two-year-old son, her friend Georgia Beynon, and her nine-month-old daughter.
They heard a knock at the front door and when Ms Jones looked through the spyhole, she saw Seal, who lived in the same block of flats and was known to her.
When she opened the door, the defendant pushed his way in and pushed Ms Jones up against a cupboard.
Prosecutor Mike Jones said: “Ms Jones felt pain to arms and stomach and she screamed to her friend to call the police.
“The defendant grabbed Ms Jones around the neck and Ms Beynon watched in horror.
“She described him holding the knife high and was making downward stabbing motions, lashing out around nine times.
“Ms Beynon picked up her daughter and made her way to the kitchen. Soon afterwards the defendant left the premises. Ms Jones was bleeding heavily.”
A six-inch kitchen knife was later found at Ms Jones’ flat and the handle had broken off. A black hat and black gloves were also found.
Neighbours who heard screaming from Ms Jones’ flat described it as sounding like “someone was being murdered” and “like a horror film”.
'Mercifully minor injuries'
Ms Jones was taken to the Princess of Wales Hospital, in Bridgend, where she received treatment for a laceration on her arm and two superficial injuries to her abdomen.
Mike Jones said: “They were mercifully minor injuries considering the extent of the attack.”
On May 16, the defendant’s sister Jacqueline Thomas had a phone call to say that the police were looking for her brother.
She phoned her parents and discovered that Seal was with them.
She went to see her parents, who described Seal as being in a “terrible state” and with eyes like a “rabbit in the headlights”.
He was also described as being upset that he had “hurt the lady upstairs”.
'My head’s gone, my head’s gone completely'
Mrs Thomas said her brother told her: “Jac, I stabbed somebody. My head’s gone, my head’s gone completely, I have been having these thoughts flashing through my head. They won’t stop.”
Mrs Thomas called the police who came to Seal’s parents’ house and he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
He was taken to the Princess of Wales Hospital for treatment to an arm injury he had sustained in the attack.
At the hospital, Seal asked his sister if he had a fight with Gwilym Jones the night before.
When Mrs Thomas informed the police there may be another victim, they asked Seal if he had attacked Mr Jones.
The defendant said: “I can’t really remember, I think I did something to Fruitbat but I’m not sure.”
After the disclosure, officers attended Mr Jones’ flat in Oxford Court where they discovered the victim sat on his settee, slumped over and covered in blood. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
'Sunday Bloody Sunday'
Seal was arrested again on suspicion of murder, and told officers: “Fruitbat beat my nephew up, I could have killed the b******.”
A post mortem carried out on Gwilym Jones concluded that he died as a result of a single stab wound which had caused a massive internal haemorrhage.
When officers attended Seal’s flat they found what prosecutor Mr Jones described as a “revenge planner”, with notes headed “main targets” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday”.
In one of the notes, the defendant had written: “These b******* I am killing, did very bad things to me.”
Seal, who suffers with epilepsy and was described as a “chronic” cannabis user, was interviewed by a number of psychiatrists following his arrest.
The defendant told one of the consultants he had become stressed in the lead up to the attacks and said he was having issues with Ms Jones, who he claimed had been spreading rumours about him being a paedophile.
He also said he had been having arguments with Gwilym Jones, who he claimed had been picking on his nephew.
'Psychotic disorder'
They concluded that the defendant was experiencing psychotic symptoms and hallucinations which greatly affected his behaviour, as well as paranoia, anxiety and depression.
They added that Seal was likely to have a developed a “psychotic disorder” and had suffered from an abnormality of function.
It was claimed the defendant’s psychosis could have developed as a result of his severe epilepsy and his cannabis use.
In a victim personal statement Ms Jones, read out to the court, Ms Jones said: “I didn’t know what the hell was going on, it’s the most frightening thing that has happened in my life.
“I knew I was in danger, I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t stop him.
“When I think of Gwilym, I think that could have been me, Georgia or the kids.”
Ms Jones added that she has since moved away from the Ogmore Vale having been unable to return to the flat.
Defence barrister Christopher Clee QC told the court that Seal’s family had been told and understood that the defendant would be receiving a long custodial sentence.
He said: “Over the years, the family have expressed their concerns about the defendant’s deteriorating mental state, seemingly to no avail.
“Rightyly or wrongly, this defendant’s family are formed of the view this was a tragedy that could well have been averted.”
Intention to kill
Sentencing, Judge Sir Roderick Evans said: “You went to the flat of each victim, took a knife from your flat and doing so with the intention to kill them.
“There’s an element of planning in your case beyond taking a knife which is reflected in the lists you compiled.”
He added: “You are a dangerous offender and it’s not possible to judge for how long that danger will persist.
“Nobody can tell the court when the danger you pose will no longer exist.”
Seal, of Oxford Court, Ogmore Vale, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 12 years.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Peter Collins said: "This is a tragic case for all concerned and we hope today's sentencing will bring some comfort to the the family of Gwilym Jones and also to Bridie Jones.
'Extremely rare' incidents
"Mr Jones was well known in the local community and his death has been difficult to come to terms with. He will be sadly missed by all who knew hom.
"I want to reassure the community that incidents such as this are, thankfully, extremely rare.
"Finally, I'd like to thank all the witnesses and members of the local community who provided their cooperation throughout the investigation."
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/man-who-stabbed-pensioner-death-12326625
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