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A paranoid schizophrenic has been detained under a Hospital Order for attacking a Jehovah’s Witness with a broken bottle in Mirfield.

Leeds Crown Court heard Shaun Dawson, who had a longstanding history of mental illness, had begun attending the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Newgate around November 2014.

But as time passed the congregation noticed he was becoming disruptive and he was asked not to attend again.

Michael Smith prosecuting told the court that prior to the attack on February 12 last year Dawson admitted he had begun to have delusional thoughts that people were going to his home and stealing things, including his food.

On the day concerned he turned up at the hall carrying two bottles and when someone tried to stop him entering he smashed one of the bottles against a wall and stabbed it into the face of Alex Rees.

He then smashed the second bottle over the head of Mr Rees before some members of the congregation managed to restrain him until the police arrived while others helped the injured man.

The court was told Dawson was not fit to be interviewed immediately because of his mental condition but later did admit responsibility. Mr Rees, 35, is now left with a permanent scar down his left cheek as a result of the attack.

Stephen Wood representing Dawson said psychiatrists had diagnosed him as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia which required treatment in hospital and a bed was available for him at the Bretton Centre in Wakefield.

Dawson, 37, admitted wounding Mr Rees with intent and was ordered to be detained under section 37 of the Mental Health Act and for the detention to be without limit of time under Section 41.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said the psychiatric evidence indicated he suffered from a mental disorder, paranoid schizophrenia which was of such a degree it was necessary to detain him for treatment in hospital.

He said having regard to the nature of the offence, Dawson’s long-standing illness which had involved previous admission to hospital and his lack of co-operation on occasions it was necessary to have a restriction order.

He added: “However serious the case is it is a case for treatment rather than punishment.”