Stolen from us by an act of evil>vid

THE family of a Hull pensioner who was killed by a psychotic teenager have told of their "unbearable sense of loss".

James Callaghan, 18, killed 65-year-old Irene Roberton with an axe after breaking into her home in west Hull on December 28 last year.

Hull Crown Court heard Callaghan, who was 17 at the time, suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and was urged to kill by voices he heard.

He had gone on a drink and drug-fuelled rampage around west Hull, threatening a number of people and attacking an 18-year-old man, before he killed the pensioner in a random attack.

The teenager then smashed through the door of a neighbouring couple, who called the police and he was arrested at the scene minutes later.

In a statement, Mrs Roberton's son Darren said: "My mum was cruelly and viciously taken away from me and my family.

"In a single act of evil violence she was stolen from us, robbed of the precious gift of life.

"In that single moment, our world changed forever and our lives will never be the same again.

"Our hearts were ripped in two and we were engulfed and overwhelmed with grief and an unbearable sense of loss."

Detectives investigating Mrs Roberton's death said there could have been multiple killings as Callaghan tore around the streets armed with an axe and knife.

Detective Superintendent Dena Fleming, who heads Humberside Police's major incident team, said: "There could have been numerous victims that night. If the officers attending that call hadn't got there when they did, there could have been more victims."

Callaghan previously pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility in relation to Mrs Roberton's death and wounding with intent for the attack on the 18-year-old.

Psychiatric assessments revealed he was suffering from a "severe enduring mental illness" likely to be paranoid schizophrenia.

Honorary Recorder for Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear, said Callaghan continued to pose a risk to the public and it would be a "very long time, if ever" before his release was even considered.

He ordered the teenager be made subject of a hospital order, with a restriction which means he cannot be released without the permission of the Home Secretary or an independent tribunal.

See today's Mail for more on the killing, including:

A narrative of the night Callaghan went our armed with an axe

The family's statement in full

A profile of Callaghan and his medical condition

An explanation of what the sentence means