A BROXTON husband and wife have criticised the sentence handed to their son, who was once diagnosed with a severe mental illness, after he admitted attacking them.

Colin and Helene Stuart expressed frustration at the lack of emphasis given to the mental wellbeing of their son, John.

John Stuart, 37, pleaded guilty in Chester Magistrates Court to grabbing Helene around the throat and headbutting Colin on May 8.

Magistrates said they were aware John Stuart had a long period of mental health issues, and handed him a two-year community order with supervision, but Colin believes more analysis needed to be done prior to sentencing to thoroughly assess whether his son has a mental illness.

Colin said: “Our son has been a mental health patient for the past 19 years, and it has been such a sad situation.

“In 2005, he was examined by a consultant psychiatrist who said he had a severe mental illness – paranoid schizophrenia.

“People like our son don’t just get better by magic – they need continual support. He has since been told he has no mental health problems, and has been discharged and removed from the mental health register.

“But my local GP recently said my son John needs examining by an independent, forensic psychiatrist.

“That is what I’m asking for, just some answers. My son either has a severe mental illness, in which case he needs treatment, or he does not.

“But for him to be treated as having the all-clear, I found it unbelievable.”

Colin Stuart added he is now concerned for the welfare of his son, who now has no fixed address.

“There is a serious problem which has placed pressure on John, myself and my wife.”