Son with Schizophrenia Kills Mother in Blyth, Family Cites Missed Opportunities
June Sanderson, a 73-year-old grandmother, was fatally attacked by her son Steven Sanderson in July 2019 in Blyth, Northumberland. The tragic incident has left her family devastated, with her daughters highlighting numerous missed opportunities for intervention in Steven's mental health care.
A Prolonged and Violent Assault
Steven Sanderson, 42, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, subjected his mother to a brutal and prolonged assault inside his home on Wellington Street. The court heard that he punched her repeatedly, banged her head against a wall, strangled her, and headbutted her. During the attack, his Pit Bull terrier also bit her, adding to her injuries.
Mrs. Sanderson managed to escape the property in a distressed state, with her coat and handbag torn. A passer-by found her bleeding heavily and with serious arm injuries. She recounted to paramedics and police that her son had locked the door to prevent her from leaving before eventually letting her out.
Systemic Failures in Mental Health Support
In a joint victim impact statement, Mrs. Sanderson's daughters, Karen and Joanne, expressed their anguish over the systemic failures that preceded the tragedy. "There were so many missed opportunities to get help for Steven," they said. "It's just a shame mam had to die to get the help he needed."
Steven Sanderson had a long history of mental health problems and drug misuse, with repeated admissions to psychiatric hospitals over many years. In the months leading up to the attack, Mrs. Sanderson had confided in local residents that their relationship had become strained due to his deteriorating mental state, and she expressed fear over his increasingly aggressive behaviour.
Legal Proceedings and Hospital Order
Initially charged with murder, Steven Sanderson was ruled unfit to plead in December 2020. However, after six years of treatment in a secure hospital, reports indicated he had become fit to plead, leading to a reversal of that ruling in January. At Newcastle Crown Court, he pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted manslaughter. He was subsequently placed under a hospital order.
Defence barrister John Elvidge KC acknowledged the missed opportunities, noting that Steven and his family had made repeated attempts to seek help in the weeks before the incident. "His mother was a tremendous support for him, and he is deeply remorseful about what he has done when he was seriously unwell," Elvidge stated.
Family's Divergent Responses
The tragedy has elicited mixed responses within the family. While Karen and Joanne maintain contact with their brother, expressing hope for his recovery, their brother Kelly feels profound anger. "I believe she had finally had enough of his behaviour and would have wanted him prosecuted," Kelly said. He added that he no longer wishes to see or speak with Steven.
Mrs. Sanderson, a widowed mother of four, was described as fit and active despite having suffered a stroke in 2014. She visited her son almost daily, providing both financial and emotional support. Her death on August 4, 2019, following surgery for an acute brain bleed, has left a lasting void in her family's lives.
The case underscores critical issues in mental health care and the devastating consequences when support systems fail those most in need.
