Mentally-ill man 'freed to kill'

Stephen Allum stabbed his wife to death

Failures by health officials led to the release of a man who then stabbed his wife to death, an inquiry has said.

Carers looking after Stephen Allum following an attack on his stepmother should have passed on information about his mental condition, the report said.

The omissions, which breached NHS guidelines, meant that Allum, a former bus driver, was allowed to go home.

The findings of the two-year inquiry, commisioned by the Berkshire Health Authority, were released on Tuesday at a news conference in Maidenhead, Berks.

Chairman Anselm Eldergill highlighted six major failures in the assessment, treatment and care of Allum following the attack on his stepmother.

Mr Eldergill said: "Important information about the assault was not sought by, or communicated to, those responsible for assessing, treating and caring for Stephen Allum, both in hospital and in the community.

"Even within the police station, important details concerning the assault were unknown to those assessing his mental state and the risk associated with it.

"It cannot be good practice to make decisions about the need for compulsory powers without such information, when that information is readily available."

Allum attacked his stepmother with a broken glass just hours after visiting his GP.

The terrifying attack was only stopped when Allum's father tricked him into phoning the police.

Killed after discharge

He was later admitted to Wexham Park Hospital near Slough in Berkshire, where he stayed for three weeks.

Just over two weeks after his discharge in October 1997, he killed his wife while his two teenage sons played in the family home at Maidenhead in Berkshire.

The inquiry ruled that Mrs Allum's death was a premeditated, planned killing.

Mr Eldergill said: "There had been a history of matrimonial discord. But he was not repelled by the idea of taking his wife's life in the way a normal person would be."

He added: "There was a failure to properly inform the family of discharge decisions and there was a widespread failure to implement NHS guidelines concerning certain aspects of Mr Allum's care.

Nick Relph, Chief Executive of Berkshire Health Authority, said: "We all offer our sincere apologies to the families of Mr and Mrs Allum.

"We absolutely take on board that there are wider lessons to be learnt on a local and national level."

Alison Harding, Thelma's 26-year-old sister, said after the hearing: "We have been waiting for a public apology for two years and that is what we have got today."

Allum is currently housed at a medium secure unit after being found guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.