Yahoo News Ex-student who stabbed university lecturer 12 times is sectioned indefinitely
Ryan Usher attacked Dr Neil Turnbull outside his office at Nottingham Trent University.
An ex-student who repeatedly stabbed his former university lecturer outside his office has been sectioned indefinitely.
Ryan Usher, 48, waited outside Dr Neil Turnbull’s office at Nottingham Trent University armed with two knives before launching the frenzied attack on 31 January.
A court heard Usher charged towards the Philosophy lecturer and plunged a knife into his back and left side 12 times.
He only stopped when Dr Turnbull’s colleagues heard his screams and pleaded with Usher to drop the knife.
On Friday, he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court via video link from a psychiatric hospital where he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
Dr Turnbull, who had worked at Nottingham Trent University for 28 years, had just left his office on Clifton campus ahead of an 11am lecture when he was attacked by Usher, who he taught between 2013 and 2016.
After receiving first aid at the scene, Dr Turnbull was rushed to hospital where he was treated for multiple stab wounds.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, he said that during the attack he believed he was going to die.
He went on to say that he had suffered injuries from which he is still recovering.
The hearing also heard that in a police interview, Usher stated his intention had been to kill Dr Turnbull and that he felt “ashamed” he was still alive.
He also disclosed he had been practising the attack by stabbing a punch bag at his home.
During the finding of fact hearing in December, the jury heard how Usher's delusional disorder caused him to fixate on people who he believed were part of a conspiracy.
Usher, who suffers from a chronic delusional disorder, was arrested and later charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
He also went on to be charged with stalking over emails sent to a University of Nottingham employee in which he professed his 'love' for her.
Usher was further charged with assault by beating after Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome was spat on last January.
He was found by a judge to be unfit to face trial due to his mental illness and a jury later found that he had committed the acts described.
Judge Stuart Rafferty KC told Usher he would be detained in a psychiatric hospital until the Secretary of State for Justice, or a Mental Health Tribunal panel, decided it was safe for him to be released into the community.
