A PENSIONER who stabbed a woman multiple times in her care home will not be sent to prison.

Marie Seyforth, attempted to kill Elizabeth McGowan with a kitchen knife she bought from BHS at a Burtonwood care home in May 2016.

The 68-year-old was sentenced to a hospital order at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday, after pleading guilty to attempted murder and possession of a blade.

Keith Sutton, prosecuting, said: “At 12.45pm on May 18, Seyforth made her way into St Mary’s Care Centre as a visitor where her victim was a patient.

“The victim Elizabeth McGowan was having lunch with the centre manager when Seyforth asked reception if she could visit Ms McGowan.

“Ms McGowan agreed and the pair were left alone in the lounge area when the manager heard shouts for help.”

The court heard how Seyforth was found stabbing Ms McGowan, 70, repeatedly in the back.

Ms McGowan was taken to Aintree Hospital where she was treated for a five inch laceration to the neck and lacerations to the back. She also sustained serious injuries to her hands.

Seyforth told members of staff at the care home ‘she had come to kill McGowan’ with the five-inch kitchen knife.

When police arrived she asked 'Are you going lock me up for attempted murder? I wanted to kill her'.

She then added: “I wanted to murder Elizabeth but I wasn’t successful.”

In her police interview Seyforth stated she had lived with McGowan in St Helens where she was ‘kept as a slave’.

The court heard how Seyforth had bought the kitchen knife from BHS in Blackpool the morning of the attack and travelled to Warrington shortly after.

After being evicted from her house in Blackpool, Seyforth slept rough for two days before buying the knife.

Keith Sutton, prosecuting, said: “She took a knife out of her bag and went for her jugular.”

Seyforth has been committed to hospital orders previously for criminal damage and arson, in an attempt to kill her mother.

Consultant forensic psychiatrist, Lucy Bacon, was present at Liverpool Crown Court to give evidence.

She said: “Marie has a long history of relapsing as she suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. She possesses a significant risk to others when she is unwell. She still has ongoing symptoms despite improvements.

“If she responds well to treatment she will gradually process through the secure hospital and eventually be released under medical supervision in special accommodation.”

Ms Bacon also told the court that the attack had taken place shortly after Seyforth was allowed to stop taking her medication.

Philip Holden, defending, said: “It is likely my client will be in a secure hospital for a number of years.”

After hearing medical evidence, Judge Neil Flewitt QC, said: “Although the harm was serious and the intention was fatal, Marie has limited culpability as these actions were a direct result of her mental illness.

“Therefore a penal element is not necessary.

“You can also link her previous convictions to untreated symptoms.

“She knew what she was doing and her decision to harm and to kill was based on her delusional beliefs.”

It was then stated a prison sentence and release would not sufficiently meet Seyforth’s psychiatric needs.

Seyforth was sentenced to the hospital order under the mental health act at Guild Lodge secure mental health hospital with immediate effect.