A man who stabbed his mother’s partner to death under the false belief he was trying to control his mind has been locked up indefinitely.

Paul McCarroll, 45, who had recently become a grandfather for the first time, was attacked by Nicholas Jones who plunged a 15cm-long kitchen knife into his chest as the victim sat up in bed with his girlfriend.

Jones, 35, fled the family home in Croydon, south London, swearing and carrying a pair of shoes, following the incident at the property which came “out of the blue” on the evening of 20 November last year.

Jones called emergency services, saying: “I have f****ed up. I tried stabbing someone through the heart. I thought he was trying to mind control me.”

The defendant complained about voices in his head and said he had not been taking his medication.

At his sentencing at the Old Bailey, Judge Anthony Leonard told Jones: “The absolute tragedy is … that had you taken your medication, there is a strong likelihood this would never have happened.”

Mr McCarroll’s partner Elaine Jones told police there had been no animosity and the attack came “out of the blue”, according to prosecutor Charlotte Newell QC.

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Mrs Jones said her son had suffered from mental health problems during adulthood which he put down to being hypnotised in a pub once.

The defendant had used drugs including skunk cannabis and cocaine in the past but was not under the influence when he carried out the killing.

Mr McCarroll, a fork-lift truck instructor who was pronounced dead at the scene, was described in court as a kind man and devoted father-of-two.

He was a carer to his parents who were shielding during the COVID lockdown and slept in his car for days so he could be close for the birth of his first grandchild, who he never got to meet.

In July, Jones, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

On Monday, the judge handed him a hospital order without limit of time.

The victim’s sister, Mel Pounder, said: “Our lives have been torn apart and our anguish multiplied during the delays that it has taken to get to this point.”

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