A pensioner has been sentenced to more than 13 years for trying to murder a retirement home manager with a knife and meat cleaver in an "unprovoked and sustained attack".

Fred Butcher inflicted serious injuries when he repeatedly knifed Mina Turner and struck her on the back of the head with the blunt end of the cleaver at Hengist Court in Marsham Street on January 26 last year.

Mrs Turner, then 59, described Butcher's face as "distorted with rage" as he launched the brutal assault which left her with wounds to her stomach, a perforated bowel, liver damage, fractured bones and permanent tendon damage to her wrist.

When arrested, Butcher told police: "I meant to kill her. She's been winding me up."

The 80-year-old’s sentencing had originally been due to take place in June 2017 after he admitted attempted murder.

Peter Forbes, prosecuting, said: “This was an unprovoked and sustained attack with a meat cleaver and a kitchen knife causing substantial physical injuries.

“On the morning of January 26, 2017, Mina Turner was in her office and sat working at her desk. On the CCTV monitors she had noted the arrival of Fred Butcher by car but thought nothing of it.

“He reversed up to the back entrance leaving the engine running before coming into the building. Without warning the defendant came into her office and she saw him first from the corner of her eye.

“He raised his right hand and she recalled seeing something coming at her with purpose and motive. His eyes were focused on her. He brought down his hand crashing onto the back of her head and she had no time to defend herself.

“She felt her brain had been violently shaken and she felt wounds down her neck. She described his face as being distorted with rage. She felt something sharp penetrated above her eye and this must have been the kitchen knife. He pushed the blade into her neck and she screamed out for help.”

Patrick Gatt, who had been visiting Hengist Court, heard her screams and saw Mrs Turner lying on the ground with the defendant straddled over her stabbing her in the stomach.

“Her husband and son came to her aid and she collapsed in the hallway. Her son could see her tendons and bone exposed at her wrist and the wound to her stomach was open,” Mr Forbes continued.

Butcher told police he had originally wanted to kill Mrs Turner with an axe before landing a blow on her head with a meat cleaver and stabbing her with a kitchen knife.

Mr Forbes said: “As he was being arrested for GBH the defendant said ‘I meant to kill her but I didn’t manage. I didn’t mean it to be GBH. I meant to kill her. She’s been winding me up’.”

Butcher had felt Mrs Turner has been killing the fish and plants around the residential home and also believed she had taken it upon herself to dismantle a Christmas display.

The court was also told Butcher began to laugh and told police: “I bet she doesn’t wind anybody else up in a ******* hurry. I’m on top of the world.”

During his arrest he added: “I’m glad I’ve done it. I’m sorry I never ******* killed her. I’m 80 years old.”

"The attack by Fred Butcher has changed my life dramatically and at 60 it’s a lot harder to overcome all the associated trauma both physically and mentally" - Mina Turner

Mrs Turner was left with a 10cm gash to the back of her head, colonic perforations and complex fractures to her wrist.

The now 61-year-old spent one month at King's College Hospital in London and a further week at Maidstone Hospital.

She has since had to return to work despite ongoing issues with her right wrist and her family has had to sell their two cars and pawn jewellery to make up for the financial loss.

In a victim impact statement Mrs Turner said: “The attack by Fred Butcher has changed my life dramatically and at 60 it’s a lot harder to overcome all the associated trauma both physically and mentally.”

Ben Irwin, defending Butcher, said he was in a period of bereavement following the death of his wife in March 2016.

He said Butcher had become fixated on Mrs Turner and believed she had killed the fish at Hengist Court and poured bleach into plants.

After today's hearing, Detective Inspector Tristan Kluibenschadl from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "This was a frenzied assault which was also wholly unprovoked.

"Butcher had every intention of killing a woman, simply because he harboured resentment, over some trivial matters at the home.

"Had it not been for the brave intervention of a man who witnessed the attack, I have no doubt Butcher’s actions would have had fatal consequences.

"The victim has undergone an extremely traumatic and life-changing experience which will no doubt continue to have long-term physical and mental scars.

"Butcher has shown callous disregard for the trauma and distress he has caused, not only to the victim, but to the many elderly and vulnerable people, who were within a short distance of Butcher as the attack was taking place.

"He has now rightly been sentenced to a substantial prison sentence."

There had been numerous delays because of Butcher’s mental state at the time with a crown court judge ruling he should not be dealt with under the Mental Health Act.

Concerns had also been raised about Butcher’s various medical conditions, including a possible cancer diagnosis, but tests revealed this was not the case.

An interim order had been in place for Butcher to be detained at a hospital in Surrey pending sentence, but he was sent to Elmley Prison following mental health assessment.

During a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court in February, a judge was told there had been “a change in circumstances” in that a psychiatrist’s view was that the widower was not suitable for a hospital order as a final disposal of the case.

Butcher was jailed for 13 years and three months. He will serve half in prison and the rest on licence.

Judge Philip Statman said: “You expressly indicated to officers that you were sorry that you had not killed your victim.

“From that day to this you have expressed not an inkling of remorse.

“You are now in your autumn years. You should be at this time enjoying these years. No one could’ve foreseen that which you have perpetrated on this violent attack upon your victim.”

Judge Statman also recommended Mr Gatt for a High Sheriff Award and reward of £500 for his bravery.