Father of murder accused '˜repeatedly warned' care workers about his son

John Daley wrote to his son, Matthew’s, care workers on three occasions warning them he could hurt or even kill someone because of his delusional and violent outbursts.

The 35-year-old, of St Elmo Road, Worthing, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome in 2008.

But his paranoid hallucinations were not treated as he would not take his anti-psychotic medication.

Daley stabbed Don Lock 39 times in the chest, head, neck and back after a low-speed car crash in Findon on July 16 last year.

He denies murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Mr Daley recounted the family’s 10-year struggle to Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday:

He said: “That poor man’s family will have to live with my son’s actions for the rest of their lives. They will never be able to understand what’s happened.

“Had I been more assertive in my dealing with mental health authorities there might have been more of a response from them.

“I was too reasonable, but you have to shout and scream to get an outcome.”

A month before the trial, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust wrote to the Daley family to apologise for his care.

A review was carried out that found staff didn’t check he was taking his medication, assess the initial diagnoses of Aspergers or take account of his ‘risk to others’ properly.

Incidents from 2011 involved Daley attacking members of the public in the street, as he believed they were sleeping with his girlfriends or were being aggressive towards him.

In 2012 he was transferred from the early intervention team to adult services.

A care plan was drawn up in December 2012 in which Mr Daley requested his son was sectioned, but it was decided he could be cared for in the community.

Mr Daley told the court: “Because he’s a clever guy he was able to persuade doctors to reduce his medication by looking up the side effects of the medication and saying he was worried about gaining weight or becoming impotent.”

Daley’s girlfriend Lea Luff also wrote an email to authorities in 2013 stating Daley ‘felt possessed’.

In July Daley’s condition got so bad his father took him to A&E where he begged his son to be sectioned, but he was prescribed more anti-psychotic drugs.

The trial continues.