'NIGHTMARE' FOR FAMILY AS KILLER GRANTED LEAVE

THE family of a man who was killed by a psychiatric patient while walking his dog have said the incident was just the “beginning of our nightmare” as his attacker is allowed out on visits.

- By GEORGE THOMPSON

Lewis Stone, a retired butcher, was on holiday in Borth, Ceredigion, when he was stabbed repeatedly by David Fleet in 2019.

Fleet, who suffers from schizophrenia, had been released from a secure psychiatric unit just 10 days before the incident.

Six years on, Mr Stone's family have been told Fleet will be allowed overnight leave from the secure unit where he has been held, despite them still having questions about the psychiatric care he received before the attack.

Vicki Lindsay, Mr Stone's step-daughter, called on the NHS to publish its internal reports so the family can understand why decisions were made and ensure lessons are learned.

At around 9.20am on February 28, 2019, Mr Stone, 71, left the holiday home where he had been staying with his wife Elizabeth, to walk his dog, Jock.

Some 20 minutes later, on the bank of Afon Leri, he came across Fleet, who stabbed him several times.

Mr Stone died three months later.

Fleet, who was 21 at the time, pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility and was detained indefinitely at a secure psychiatric unit.

On Thursday, Mr Stone’s family was told Fleet would be allowed overnight leave.

During his sentencing hearing, Swansea Crown Court heard Fleet experienced voices in his head saying they were going to kill him and take over his brain if he did not attack someone.

Fleet had been detained under the Mental Health Act in October 2018 but was sent home 10 days before the incident, despite his mother raising concerns about his release.