A MENTALLY ill man stabbed a two-year-old girl in the stomach shortly after being released from a psychiatric ward, a court heard.

Daljit Singh had previously admitted to police that he had urges to harm children.

Two days after walking out of Littlebrook Hospital in Dartford, the 28-year-old caused serious injury to the toddler.

Singh, of Old Road East, Gravesend, was detained in hospital indefinitely after a jury was asked to find him not guilty of the attack by reasons of insanity.

Imposing the hospital order on Friday, Judge Stephen Robbins said Singh had regarded himself as a great danger.

"I consider the public needs to be protected," he said. "He had been discharged a few days before he did exactly what he forecast he might do - namely cause serious harm to a very young child."

* Full story in this week's Gravesend Messenger.