Man sentenced to hospital order after killing 80-year-old man in Cheltenham

A man has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after fatally attacking a man inside an address in Cheltenham last year.

Jonathan Moore, aged 64, previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility of 80-year-old James Mayo, also known as Jim, on 14 April 2024.

Moore, who was found to have had a serious mental disorder at the time, namely a delusional disorder, attacked Mr Mayo inside a property in Welland Court on Welland Lodge Road in the town.

Bristol Crown Court was told that Moore was having paranoid delusions and thought a man he used to work with 15 years ago had a vendetta against him and that he was stalking him.

Moore believed this man had organised for his home to be bugged and that his electronic devices had been hacked and he was under surveillance.

He thought his neighbour Mr Mayo had also been employed by this man, and that they had a conspiracy against him, however these were delusional beliefs.

At around 6.30pm Moore knocked on Mr Mayo's door and carried out what prosecuting barrister Richard Posner described as a frenzied, sustained and brutal assault.

Another neighbour heard noises coming from the flat at the retirement development and pulled their emergency Careline cord, which alerted a call handler and an ambulance was subsequently called.

Paramedics went to the scene first and then officers attended after Moore called police himself at around 7pm to say he had killed his neighbour by stabbing him several times with a knife.

Moore was arrested at the scene and Mr Mayo was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Moore had inflicted a significant amount of blunt and sharp force injuries to Mr Mayo, and a post-mortem concluded he died as a result of multiple penetrating injuries to the head and trunk of his body.

The man Moore named as having a vendetta against him was spoken to by police and he did not recall working with Moore.

Following an investigation by the Major Crime Investigation Team, Moore was charged with murder. On 3 October 2024 he pleaded guilty to an offence of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and this was accepted by the Crown.

On Friday (10 January) His Honour Judge Peter Blair KC sentenced Moore to a Section 37 (Mental Health Act) Hospital Order along with an indefinite Section 41 Order which prevents him from being granted leave or discharged without authority from the Secretary of State for Justice.

Judge Blair said Mr Mayo was an "entirely innocent man" and that it was understandable that no-one predicted how Moore would have behaved that day.

Moore had no previous convictions or cautions. He had no history of mental health issues and would not have realised he had a problem and therefore would not have sought medical help.

The court was told Moore had been subject of ongoing treatment inside a psychiatric hospital since his arrest and that the disorder was less severe.

Moore had been of the view that he was not mentally ill, however he was starting to recognise that his behaviour was down to mental illness.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Usher said: "This was a horrific and sustained attack on a defenceless man, that has had a devastating impact on the family.

"This sentence allows Moore to be detained indefinitely in an appropriate institution where he can receive the support he needs."

Following the sentencing Mr Mayo's family released a statement, it said: "On behalf of the family of Jim, we would like to show our appreciation and gratitude to all of the people and services that assisted following this brutal attack on 14 April 2024.

"The other neighbour who placed the emergency call, the Careline telephone service, the 999 emergency service, the police teams, ambulance personnel, the coroner, the Crown Prosecution Service and the legal team. 

"The professional services involved often don't get the recognition they all deserve, most saying 'I'm just doing my job'.

"This is a heartfelt thank you for the help, support and sensitivity you have all shown during this tragic event.

"The police family liaison officer assigned has been with us during the most darkest and difficult times. We will always be grateful for the sensitive care and compassion she has shown during our time of need and understanding.

"We hope justice has been served on Jonathan Moore for this brutal killing of an innocent elderly man.

"Now we request that Jim can rest in peace."