News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A bitter 52-year-old stabbed his neighbour 16 times in an “intense and frenzied attack” after claiming her dog had left a mess on his lawn.

Angus Cameron tried to kill Susan Brown outside their £470,000 village homes after they argued about excrement which appeared on his garden.

Cameron accused 56-year-old Mrs Brown of ‘allowing her dog to defecate in his garden’ and stewed over the argument in the days to follow, becoming ‘obsessed’ with it.

At 8.35am on Saturday July 23, Cameron armed himself with a large commando knife he had bought years ago and kept secret before confronting Mrs Brown outside their properties.

He pulled the blade from under his T-shirt as he approached Mrs Brown and carried out an “intense and frenzied” attack on her, stabbing her 16 times.

Married mother Mrs Brown fell to the ground as Cameron repeatedly slashed at her, even changing his grip ‘so he could stab down at her’.

Cameron’s 75-year-old father Ian, who lived with him, rushed out their home in leafy Headley, near Bordon, Hants, to intervene - but he continued stabbing Mrs Brown even after seeing him.

Mrs Brown suffered a partially punctured lung, stab wounds to her face and chest and was air-lifted to hospital after telling her husband William she thought she would die.

Cameron admitted one count of attempted murder and was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court , Hants.

The court heard he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and will be detained under the Mental Health Act at a secure psychiatric unit.

(Image: Solent)

Prosecutor Matthew Jewell told Winchester Crown Court Cameron, who lived with his parents, had been neighbours with Mrs Brown and her family for 15 years without any incidents.

He said: “They had been neighbours for 15 years and there was no history of difficulties. He lived with his parents Ian and Sue, who are in their 70s.

“The defendant had originally confronted Mrs Brown and accused her of allowing her dog to defecate in their garden.

“There was an altercation between them and Mrs Brown wrote a letter to Mr Cameron’s father, letting him know what his son claimed and saying that it was not true.

“One week later, around half eight in the morning, Mrs Brown went to collect something from her car which was parked outside.

“The defendant emerged from his home and began walking towards Mrs Brown.

“Though this may have been over a short period of time, the defendant carried out an intense and frenzied attack with a commando knife.

“Helpless Mrs Brown fell over after one swing of the knife and was repeatedly stabbed by the defendant as he stood over her.”

A video showing the horrific attack shown in court appears to show Cameron noticing his father rushing to intervene, yet continue to stab her another two times.

Mr Jewell continued: “Mr Cameron’s father can be seen rushing out of his house and it’s at this point Mr Cameron appears to notice him, but still carries on the attack.

“A total of 16 stabbing actions were made. When she falls, you can see Mr Cameron change his grip so he can stab down at her.

“Mrs Brown’s recollection of it was that the first stab hit her face, not far from her eye.”

(Image: PA)

Mr Jewell also told the court Cameron has one previous offence of grievous bodily harm after he fractured the jaw of a near neighbour’s friend - and one other offence of sending a derogatory letter to a witness of that attack in 2009.

Defending, Louisa Bagley said: “First of all let me tell the court Mr Cameron has asked me to express his sincere remorse.

“He feels completely devastated about what happened on that day and would like to extend his remorse to Mrs Brown, her family and all those involved.

“Mr Cameron has worked closely with psychiatrists and fully supports their view that he needs care.”

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Gaurav Malhan told the court Cameron suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

Sentencing bespectacled Cameron, who kept his head down in the dock, judge Jane Miller QC said the attack was ‘horrifically traumatic’.

Judge Miller QC said: “A week before you stabbed Mrs Brown you created an argument with her accusing her of allowing her dog to defecate on your garden.

“Mr [William] Brown came out to find out what was wrong and saw you pointing your finger at his wife, accusing her of the claim.

“He calmed the situation down and told his wife not carry on with the row as the Camerons had been good neighbours.

“The following week she went to her car and you approached, you lifted your t-shirt and brandished a commando-style long blade.

“She fell almost immediately to the ground and you stabbed her 16 times. As you saw your father coming, you stabbed her a further two times.

“Mrs Brown was described by witnesses as very pale and she told her husband she thought she was going to die. A chest wound was so severe it spurted blood.

“Her teenage daughter came out of the house and witnessed her injuries.

“You had become obsessed with the argument and years ago you bought the knife and kept it hidden. This was a sickening attack.

“Mrs Brown describes it quite rightly as horrifically traumatic, all the time she suffers from over-whelming apprehension and is no longer the social woman she once was.

“She says it’s difficult to remain living at the scene where this happened.”

Cameron was detained under section 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act. The Hospital Order means he will remain indefinitely at a secure psychiatric unit.