A 17-year-old boy clubbed his mother to death with a mallet in their family home while suffering from a severe mental disorder.
Joseph Scott’s family said that his mother Ann had repeatedly asked for specialist in-patient assessment and treatment for her son but her requests were ignored and denied.
And when he was assessed in the weeks before he killed his mother, a doctor refused to believe her concerns about the serious nature of his mental illness.
Those responsible for his care wanted to place Joseph in London. But his mother feared that he would have been vulnerable and unsupported there and isolated because it would not be easy for his family to visit him.
Instead, she took him home even though his most recent assessment had found she “does not feel safe for Joe to return home due to his increased risky behaviour”. She reported feeling unable to keep him safe.
At Lewes Crown Court, Judge Christine Laing said: “It was your mum’s final act of love for you that she was trying to protect you from a system that wasn’t applying much joined up thinking in how to treat you.”
Judge Laing, the honorary recorder of Brighton and Hove, said that she appreciated that Joseph’s mental health was difficult to treat, adding: “Your mum tried everything she could to get help for you.
But, she added: “On too many occasions the ‘too difficult’ light came on and, rather than receiving consistent treatment in one area, you have been moved around to different places with little consideration of the impact on you.
“That you were placed in facilities far from home, in Yorkshire at one point, so (your family) couldn’t visit, cannot have helped anyone, least of all you.
“It is of concern that you were discharged from one placement because they could not manage you and left it to your mum to do so.”
Sarah Jones, prosecuting, told the court how in the moments before her death, Ann Scott, 57, had tried frantically to reach CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) without success.
And she messaged her father Patick asking him to call 999 as she tried to calm her son down. He had previously made a number of attempts to take his own life.
About half an hour after sending her last message, on the evening of Wednesday 11 January last year, the police arrived at Ann’s home, in Hollington Old Road, St Leonards.
It was immediately clear that she had not survived the fatal bloody attack and her son Joseph was waiting to be arrested.
Miss Jones read a statement from Ann’s sister Louise Scott to the court yesterday (Friday 23 February). It said: “Our family is heartbroken by the traumatic and preventable circumstances of Ann’s death.
“In the weeks prior to her death, when Joe was suffering a mental health crisis, repeated requests by Ann for specialist in-patient assessment and treatment were ignored and denied.
“This left her with no choice as a dedicated mother but to give up the job she loved and take over the full-time care of her son.
“The consequences of that decision will haunt us forever.
“Ann was acutely aware of the inadequate provision for children and adolescents with complex mental health needs and their families.
“We can only hope our suffering will highlight, once again, the reality that families like ours face daily, to try to keep their loved ones – and others around them – safe from harm.”
Scott was charged with murder. He denied the charge, pleading guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The court ordered that the murder charge lie on the file.
Judge Laing told Scott, who appeared by video link from a secure unit: “Your longstanding health problems were the principle cause that you killed your mum.”
She said, though, that she found him to be dangerous and that his poor mental health had been exacerbated by taking illicit substances including alcohol and cannabis.
The judge said: “The risk you pose is best managed in a hospital.”
She made a hospital order, under section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983, and a further restriction order, under section 41 of the act.
The orders mean that Scott, now 18, will be treated in a secure hospital instead of being sent to prison.
Judge Laing said: “If and when you are ever considered safe for release, this cannot happen without the approval of the (Justice Secretary).
“The word tragedy is frequently over-used in all walks of life. It never more applies than in this case.”
Earlier, Alan Kent, defending, said: “Anyone who hears the details of this case cannot help but be moved. Joseph was profoundly unwell at the time of the killing and remains profoundly unwell now.”
And Miss Jones read from a statement prepared by Ann’s mother, Sylvia Scott, who said that her late daughter loved her son dearly.
Referring to Sylvia Scott’s statement, Miss Jones said: “She (Ann) did everything she could for him. She was always fighting his corner. She was concerned that he wasn’t getting the help he needed with his mental health no matter what she did to try to help.
“She said her daughter loved being around young people. She had chosen to work with autistic children to make a difference in their lives. She described her as a loving daughter who did whatever she could to help them.”
Ann Scott had given up her job as a special educational needs teacher to care for her son.
Sussex Police said that she was found dead at 6.42pm on Wednesday 11 January last year after concerns were raised for her welfare.
The force said: “A post-mortem examination found she died from catastrophic head injuries.”
After the sentencing, Ann’s family said in a statement: “We will forever be affected by the traumatic nature and preventable circumstances of Ann’s death.
“Ann was a popular and inspirational teacher who was dedicated to her pupils with special educational needs. Colleagues praised her energy, insights and capacity to focus on the individual needs of each child.
“Ann was equally dedicated to advocating the welfare needs of her son who, as a young child, was diagnosed with very complex needs.
“As a family we can only hope our suffering will highlight, once again, the reality that families like ours face on a daily basis to try to keep their loved ones, who are in mental health crises, and others around them safe from harm.
“Finally, the family wish to thank the investigation team, led by Detective Chief Inspector Alex Campbell, for the sensitive way in which they have conducted the investigation, police family liaison officers, Victim Support Service and charity One Hundred Families for their invaluable support throughout.”
The senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Campbell, from the Major Crime Team, said: “This was a tragic case for all involved and our thoughts are with Ann’s family.”
