Accused sent back into care

A man found not guilty by way of insanity of trying to snatch a Porirua toddler has been ordered back into community care, despite ‘‘playing down’’ his need for medication.

The man, 32, was found not guilty because of his mental state at the time of the March 13 incident along Exploration Way in Whitby. He was also found not guilty of assaulting two people who protected the girl.

In Porirua District Court yesterday, Judge James Johnston granted the schizophrenic man permanent name suppression and followed a recommendation from psychiatrist Justin Barry-Walsh for a compulsory treatment order by way of a community treatment order.

At the time of the incident, the man had been placed in a respite home run by the Pathways community mental health organisation.

The judge said the man had relapsed after stopping or reducing his oral anti-psychotic medication.

At 2.40pm, the man allegedly came up breathing heavily behind a father and his 3-year-old daughter walking near a secluded walkway. As they passed the care house, the man allegedly tried to grab the girl, but her father intervened and took her across the street as he called for help.

The man allegedly fought with the father and others, while neighbour Jo Alderdice took the girl into her house and locked the door.

Alderdice, a mother of four, has said the man tried to break down the door before he was arrested.

The judge said the man was delusional and suffering ‘‘grandiose religious delusions’’.

His condition had since improved under professional monitoring but there was concern he might relapse if he stopped taking medication, and he had downplayed his need for it.

His treatment would include having his medication injected three times a week by a health professional.