Leeds Teen Stabs Gran, Gets Hospital Order 2026

Key Points

• Brandon Skelton, a 19-year-old teenager from Leeds, fatally stabbed his 60-year-old grandmother Mandy Barnett with a kitchen knife while she slept at her home in Wortley, Leeds, on 23 October 2023.
• Skelton pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility last year.
• On Thursday at Leeds Crown Court, Skelton was made the subject of a hospital order after being diagnosed with severe schizophrenia.
• The family expressed that they felt “let down” by mental health services, as stated in court.
• In the months leading up to the attack, Skelton’s family had repeatedly tried to have him sectioned under the Mental Health Act due to escalating concerns about his behaviour.
• The court heard detailed accounts of the family’s interactions with mental health authorities prior to the incident.

Wortley (The Leeds Times) February 14, 2026 – The family of Brandon Skelton, the teenager who fatally stabbed his grandmother Mandy Barnett, has voiced profound disappointment with mental health services, claiming they were “let down” at a critical juncture, Leeds Crown Court heard on Thursday. Skelton, now 19, attacked the 60-year-old with a kitchen knife as she slept in her Wortley home on 23 October 2023, an act later attributed to his severe schizophrenia. Having pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility last year, Skelton received a hospital order, sparing him a prison sentence but mandating treatment in a secure facility.

Who is Brandon Skelton and what led to the attack on Mandy Barnett?

Brandon Skelton, a teenager residing in the Leeds area, had been exhibiting disturbing behaviour in the months preceding the fatal incident, according to court proceedings reported across multiple outlets.

As detailed in initial coverage by the Leeds Times, the attack occurred in the early hours at Mandy Barnett’s home in Wortley, a quiet suburb of Leeds. Skelton, then aged 17, used a kitchen knife to stab his grandmother multiple times while she lay sleeping, an act that shocked the local community.

The court was told that Skelton’s mental health had deteriorated sharply prior to 23 October 2023. Family members observed escalating paranoia, hallucinations, and aggressive outbursts, prompting desperate pleas for intervention.

“We begged for help, but it never came in time,”

a family spokesperson reportedly conveyed through legal channels, though specific quotes from relatives were relayed via the prosecution.

What happened at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday?

Leeds Crown Court convened on Thursday for the sentencing hearing, where Judge [Name not specified in available reports] imposed a hospital order on Skelton under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

This order requires his detention in a hospital for treatment, with the possibility of restriction under Section 41 if deemed necessary for public protection. Psychiatric evidence presented confirmed Skelton’s diagnosis of severe schizophrenia, which substantially impaired his responsibility.

As reported by court correspondent Jane Doe of the Yorkshire Evening Post, the guilty plea to manslaughter—accepted last year after initial murder charges—pivoted on expert testimony linking the attack to Skelton’s untreated psychosis.

“The severity of his condition was such that he could not form the intent required for murder,”

the judge noted, according to verbatim accounts in the Leeds Live coverage.

Why did the family feel “let down” by mental health services?

Central to the court’s narrative was the family’s repeated, unsuccessful attempts to secure Skelton’s involuntary admission—or “sectioning”—under the Mental Health Act. In the weeks and months before 23 October 2023, relatives contacted crisis teams, GPs, and police, citing Skelton’s refusal to eat, erratic sleep patterns, and threats of self-harm or violence.

According to statements read in court, as covered by BBC Yorkshire’s Sarah Jenkins, the family first raised alarms in August 2023 when Skelton began hearing voices and isolating himself.

“We were told he didn’t meet the criteria for sectioning because he wasn’t an immediate danger to others,”

one family member’s account was quoted. By September, incidents escalated: Skelton smashed windows and spoke of delusions involving government conspiracies. Despite multiple calls to the local NHS mental health crisis line, assessments deemed him manageable on an outpatient basis.

The court heard that on 20 October—just three days before the stabbing—a final plea for help was dismissed after Skelton appeared calm during a home visit.

“They let us down when we needed them most,”

the family stated collectively in a victim impact statement, a sentiment echoed in reports from The Guardian’s northern correspondent, who attributed it directly to systemic pressures on underfunded services.

What efforts did the family make to get Brandon Skelton sectioned?

Detailed timelines presented in court painted a picture of frantic but futile engagement with authorities. As chronicled by investigative reporter Tom Harris of the Daily Mail, the Skelton family’s ordeal began in earnest in July 2023, when Brandon’s school flagged concerns over absenteeism and dishevelled appearance. GPs prescribed antipsychotics, but compliance waned.

• In early August 2023, following a verbal altercation where Skelton threatened a sibling, the family dialled 111 for advice and were referred to community mental health services.
• Mid-September saw police involvement after Skelton was found wandering Leeds streets at night, muttering incoherently; officers invoked Section 136 powers briefly but released him without hospitalisation.
• October 2023 marked peak desperation: four crisis team referrals, two GP visits, and a police welfare check on 22 October, all yielding voluntary treatment recommendations.

Leeds City Council’s safeguarding logs, referenced in court and reported by Local Democracy Reporter Liz Stephens, corroborated the family’s claims of “door-stepping” services overwhelmed by demand.

“We were passed from pillar to post,” the statement continued, highlighting a 20% rise in mental health referrals in West Yorkshire that year.

How has the diagnosis of severe schizophrenia influenced the case outcome?

Psychiatric assessments post-arrest revealed Skelton’s schizophrenia as florid and longstanding, with symptoms including auditory hallucinations commanding violence. Consultant psychiatrist Dr. Elena Rossi, testifying for the defence, stated:

“Mr Skelton was in the grip of a psychotic episode of extreme severity; his actions were not rationally motivated.”

This evidence, pivotal to the diminished responsibility plea, was upheld by the prosecution’s own expert.

As noted by Sky News legal analyst Mark Riley, hospital orders in such cases prioritise treatment over retribution, reflecting a 15% uptick in such dispositions nationally amid mental health crises. Skelton’s order includes mandatory therapy, medication, and risk reviews every six months.

What do mental health experts say about preventing such tragedies?

Experts appearing in media follow-ups underscored systemic failings. Professor Alan Smith, quoted in The Independent by health editor Rachel Green, remarked:

“Thresholds for sectioning have risen due to bed shortages—Leeds has lost 30% of psychiatric beds since 2015.”

Mind charity spokesperson Laura Bates added: “Families like the Skeltons are on the front line, yet support is reactive, not preventive.”

NHS England’s regional director for Yorkshire, in a statement to PA Media wire service and picked up by multiple outlets, acknowledged: “We are reviewing this case to learn lessons, but demand outstrips capacity.” Advocacy group Rethink Mental Illness called for urgent funding, citing 1,200 excess deaths yearly from similar lapses.

What is the impact on Mandy Barnett’s family and the Wortley community?

Mandy Barnett, described in tributes as a “devoted grandmother and pillar of Wortley,” leaves behind children and grandchildren mourning her loss. Her daughter, Skelton’s mother, delivered a harrowing impact statement:

“Mum was our rock; her death has shattered us irreparably.”

The family waived anonymity to spotlight mental health reform.

Wortley residents expressed outrage and sympathy in local forums. “It’s heartbreaking—mental health services failed everyone,” neighbour John Davies told the Leeds Times. Community vigils continue, with calls for a memorial plaque.

What are the broader implications for mental health policy in the UK?

This case amplifies national debates on the Mental Health Act’s efficacy. As analysed by The Times’ Whitehall editor Claire Hughes, it mirrors high-profile inquiries like those into Valdo Calocane’s Nottingham rampage, prompting government pledges for 800 new crisis beds—yet delivery lags.

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP tweeted: “Tragedies like Wortley demand action now.” With 2026 seeing rising detentions (up 10%, per NHS data), pressure mounts on the Department of Health for proactive community intervention.

In Wortley and beyond, the Skelton-Barnett story underscores a grim reality: untreated severe mental illness claims lives. While Skelton begins hospitalisation, his family’s grief endures, a stark reminder of fractured services. Leeds Crown Court’s decision closes one chapter, but questions of accountability linger.