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 deranged student cut off his own penis with a knife while apparently high on party drug meow meow.

The spaced-out teenager, 19, mutilated himself after stabbing his mother at their home, it was claimed yesterday.

Police raced to the scene after the injured 46-year-old woman called 999. Once there, they found her son hanging out of a bedroom window with blood pouring from his wounds.

Both were rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries in the early hours of December 29. Yesterday the mother was said to be in a stable condition at the Royal Sussex County hospital in Brighton.

The young man was also stable at University College London hospital, where surgeons are thought to have successfully sewn his penis back on.

It is thought he took mephedrone shortly before the incident.

A source close to the family from Haywards Heath, West Sussex, said of the teenager: “He is normally a lovely lad and very bright. But unfortunately, he had started dabbling in drugs.

“He had come home from university for Christmas. It looks like he took mephedrone and completely flipped out attacking his mum and then himself.

“When the police arrived they found him hanging from a window and then discovered he had cut off his penis.”

Sussex Police were yesterday probing an allegation of assault on the mum. Det Insp David Springett said: “At this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.”

(Image: Dreamstime)

What is Mephedrone?

Party drug mephedrone is a synthetic, amphetamine-like stimulant which is also known by the names drone, meow meow and MCAT.

It produces similar effects to drugs such as cocaine, causing the user to feel euphoria but can also provoke paranoia and anxiety.

Other effects users on internet forums have noted include changes in body temperature, increased heart rate, breathing difficulties, loss of appetite, increased sweating, discolouration of extremities and depression.

Mephedrone – which is illegal to sell and possess in the UK – has been linked to a number of unconfirmed deaths in this country.