Disturbed teen who stabbed 'father figure' to death is jailed

Mar 27 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A DISTURBED teenager who launched a drunken knife attack on a father-of-two has been detained for public protection.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, fatally stabbed 38-year-old Simon Clark to death at his flat in Hare Park Avenue, Liversedge, last August.

The teenager’s guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility was accepted by the prosecution after psychiatric and psychological reports were prepared on him.

Yesterday Judge Jennifer Kershaw QC said he would have to serve a minimum of five years detention before being considered for release by the Parole Board.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Mr Clark was separated from his wife, but the couple were making plans to get back together when he was fatally injured in the early hours attack.

The court heard that Mr Clark had befriended the teenager, who had been exhibiting behavioural problems since the age of 11 or 12.

The teenager was said to have had an interest in knives and regularly carried one for his own protection.

Following a fall-out with Mr Clark, the youngster’s behaviour was affected by feelings of paranoia and he felt betrayed by the man he had come to see as something of a father figure.

Prosecutor Simon Myerson QC referred to comments and a text in which the boy said he was going to kill Mr Clark, but Judge Kershaw concluded that the youth probably intended to cause serious harm to the deceased.

Mr Clark suffered a fatal 14-centimetre deep knife wound which penetrated his left lung and severed an artery.