‘Help me mum, he’s trying to kill me’

CRACK ADDICT AMBUSHED MAN ON FAMILY VISIT WITH SON, 4

A MAN taking his four-year-old son to visit his grandma was ambushed by a crack cocaine addict with a face of “pure evil.”

Michael O’Toole shouted: “Help me mum, he’s trying to kill me” as drug abuser Jonathan Alderson Gillott held a knife to his throat at a block of flats in Milnsbridge.

Mr O’Toole, 32, shielded his son from harm as he fought Gillott, suffering serious cuts to his hand and fingers while his attacker was “roaring and screaming unintelligently,” Leeds Crown Court heard. The victim told police that his attacker had shouted: “I’m going to cut your head off. You are going to die.”

Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, told the court Gillott, 34 – known as Johnny – had been abusing drugs and suffering from mental health issues for many years.

He had started smoking cannabis at 16 and progressed to crack cocaine, which he had taken on the day of the unprovoked attack on Mr O’Toole. The court heard Gillott had attacked his victim after suffering delusions and hallucinations. At one point he believed he was receiving messages through the T V and via telepathy.

On the day of the attack, February 18 last year, Mr O’Toole, from Marsh, had been visiting his mum, Bridie Feeney, who lived in a flat below the defendant at Lockbridge Way, Milnsbridge.

A delusional Gillott crept up behind Mr O’Toole and set about him.

“Mr O’Toole thought his life was in danger, as did his mother, who heard Mr O’Toole shouting in panic ‘Help me mum, he’s trying to kill me’,” said Mr Sharp.

“Neighbour Alan Tyrrell heard the commotion and came out of his flat. At that, the defendant turned towards them, still holding the knife. Ms Feeney described the look on the defendant’s face as ‘just pure evil.’”

With great bravery, Mr Tyrrell told Gillott : “No, Johnny, go, go” and the defendant turned and ran back upstairs.

Gillott then phoned police and stated that he intended to kill Mr O’Toole. He then went outside and damaged a car before smashing one of Mr Tyrrell’s windows.

He later admitted wounding with intent to cause GBH. He had originally been charged with attempted murder but this was dropped following discussions which involved the victim.

The court heard that Gillott had also attacked his mother on New Year’s Eve, although she did not want the matter to be reported to police.

In a victim impact statement, Mr O’Toole said the attack had left him too frightened to return to the block of flats and he had suffered flashbacks.

His mum said that she was traumatised by the attack and could not stop shaking.

“A mother should not have to see her son and grandson in that position,” she said in a statement, adding: “I am petrified that Johnny is going to come and finish what he started.”

The court heard that psychiatrists had diagnosed Gillott with paranoid schizophrenia and concluded that he was a danger to the public in his current condition.

After hearing evidence from psychiatrists, Judge Tom Bayliss QC imposed an indefinite hospital order, which means Gillott will remain in a secure mental health facility until he is deemed safe to be released.

The judge told Gillott that he would not be released until the Secretary of State, or the relevant tribunal, were satisfied that he no longer posed a danger to the public.

Judge Bayliss praised Mr Tyrrell for stepping in to help Mr O’Toole.

“He is to be commended for that. Who knows what would have happened had he not stepped in.”