A 'monster' who battered a grandmother to death with a hammer after wrongly believing she was taking pictures of his son has been detained for life.
Former soldier Shaun Sanders was suffering a psychotic episode when he attacked his friend Leanne Unsworth, 40, so violently it damaged her brain stem.
The 40-year-old went round to her home to confront her after becoming convinced she had been taking photos of his son.
Sanders admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Two consultant forensic psychiatrists agreed Sanders was suffering from psychosis, which left his ability to form rational judgements and exercise self-control substantially impaired.
Passing sentence at Preston Crown Court Judge Robert Altham imposed a hospital order.
The minimum term is four years and 48 days but the judge said he might never be released.
He added: "There was no provocation, there was no justification. There was certainly no mercy."
Before the killing, Sanders had told medics he feared his mental health was deteriorating and he would end up hurting someone, the court heard.
Philip Holden, defending, said: "There should be real consideration given to the fact he did make concerted efforts, around the crucial time."
An earlier hearing was told on the day Leanne was attacked in her own home, in Burnley, Lancs., she had been arranging a fourth birthday party for her granddaughter.
Jason Pitter, prosecuting, said Sanders and Leanne were part of the same social group.
Leanne had attempted to help the defendant with his mental health problems
Sanders had been increasingly aggressive with friends in the weeks before he attacked her.
The court heard on the day of the attack, Sanders was with Andrew Purvis at another of their friend's homes, taking spice.
The defendant began asking questions about why Leanne had described his children as "cute".
He went with Mr Purvis to Leanne's home and once inside, Sanders launched a "frenzied and brutal" attack on her, raining down blows with a hammer he had brought with him.
The pair later fled to Wythenshawe, Manchester, but Mr Purvis alerted the police and Sanders was arrested.
He told a custody officer: "The demon in my head told me to get rid of her because she was taking photos of my son, so I went to smack her with a hammer."
Leanne's body was later found to have 28 separate injuries, 21 of them to her head.
Sanders had three previous convictions, including two glassings and a machete attack.
Leanne's mother, Margaret Ward, said the death had brought her family, including her kids, Paige, Louise and Adam, to their knees.
Her cousin Nicola Unsworth described Sanders as a "monster".
In another statement, daughter Paige said she felt the justice system had let the family down by allowing such a man to be free.
Daughter Louise said she was still haunted by the memory of discovering her mother's body at the house on the day.
