Marlene McCabe pleaded with Blackpool medics to urgently help her grandson two months before he brutally killed her

Marlene McCabe, 71, of West Park Drive in Blackpool had hand-delivered a letter to her local health trust outlining her concerns about Conor Clarkson, 26, which a court expert later described as an 'almost textbook description' of onset and development of schizophrenia.

But in a phone triage assessment that followed days later, a mental health nurse ruled immediate psychiatric intervention was not required and Clarkson was not examined further.

On September 4 last year, Mrs McCabe was punched to the kitchen floor of the family home by Clarkson and then pinned down as he inflicted a sustained assault using his fists and a weighted rope-knot doorstop.

Marlene died from catastrophic head injuries.

Clarkson then chased his aunt into the street when she returned to the house in Marton and said: “I am the devil. That’s what happens when you mess with vampires.”

Sentencing him at Preston Crown Court to indefinite detention in a medium-secure hospital, Judge Robert Altham said: “I hope and expect that lessons are being learned from this tragic case.

“In the circumstances it is difficult to imagine anything more that his family could have done to try and get him treatment.”

Clarkson pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

The defendant was cared for by his grandmother since he was a young boy and had a happy childhood, the court was told, but started smoking skunk cannabis from the age of 13.

He went on to withdraw from the world at aged 20 and then used large quantities of cocaine two years ago, prosecutor Rob Hall said.

In November 2014 he was prescribed diazepam by his GP after he began sleeping with a cricket bat in the belief people were out to get him.

On July 2 last year police were called after Mrs McCabe and her daughter Sharon Whitlow fled the house for their own safety after Clarkson threatened them and claimed to be Lucifer and a vampire.

Clarkson was assessed but discharged without being examined by a psychiatrist.

His family were so frightened at what harm he may cause they locked him in his bedroom at night, said Mr Hall, and that “prophetically” Mrs McCabe outlined her fears her grandson had schizophrenia.

The letter to Blackpool NHS Trust delivered on July 8 was described by a prosecution psychiatric expert as an “almost textbook description” of the developing condition, said the prosecutor.

Four days later the phone triage assessment took place with Mrs McCabe’s letter acknowledged.

The court was told Clarkson drank Stella Artois lager and vodka on September 4 before he later lost his temper and struck his grandmother.

After his arrest, Clarkson was diagnosed with schizophrenia, which he continues to suffer.

Following sentencing, Ms Whitlow said: “For some a guilty plea and the end of a court case is something to be grateful for but our family has nothing to celebrate.

“We have lost a warm loving and caring mother and granny. My mother lived for her family, she was the best. We have also lost a grandson, son and nephew who desperately needed help.

“Conor was my mother’s only grandchild, he was the light of her life, she lived for him. She raised him from the age of six, he was always by her side. Conor grew into a kind and sensitive young man and he too is a victim.

“In the months before what happened we noticed disturbing changes in his behaviour and pleaded with doctors and mental health services to help us. We suspected Conor had schizophrenia but we were informed Conor would be on a six-month waiting list before he would be seen, assessed or diagnosed. Two months later my mother was dead.”

Victoria Beel, medical negligence lawyer from Slater and Gordon, is acting on behalf of Marlene’s daughter Sharon Whitlow in a civil case against Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust which runs The Harbour mental health hospital in the resort.

She said: “We are investigating the failings made here by the services that Mrs McCabe and her family put their trust in.

“We believe Mrs McCabe’s death could have been prevented if Conor had received the mental health treatment that she had begged for him to receive.

“Already our investigations have uncovered inadequate training and vital errors like the family not being involved in a collaborative risk assessment process.

“This is a tragic case which has torn apart a loving family and Mrs Whitlow wants to get answers as to how it was allowed to happen to ensure that nothing like this happens again.”

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust was approached for comment.