Sentence has been delayed further on an elderly pensioner who tried to a kill manager at his retirement home.

Fred Butcher was due to hear his fate in June after he admitted in March that he attempted to murder Mina Turner.

But there have been delays because of the 79-year-old widower’s mental state.

Butcher struck the victim on the back of the head with the blunt end of a cleaver and caused her other serious injuries at Hengist Court in Marsham Street on January 26.

Mrs Turner, 59, was left with wounds to her abdomen, a perforated bowel and liver damage. She also had fractured bones and permanent tendon damage to the wrist of her “dominant” hand.

Prosecutor Peter Forbes said there was long-term physical and psychological harm from the “planned” attack.

“There is permanent scarring and permanent disability to her wrist,” he added.

Judge Philip Statman adjourned sentencing for a psychiatric report at the request of Butcher’s lawyer Danny Moore.

It would deal with the background and events which led up to the commission of the offence said the judge.

Mr Moore said when the case returned to court at the end of last week it had taken five months to “organise” the report.

The defence were faced with an assessment that Butcher was suffering from a psychotic disorder.

“We brought the matter back to court to try to move it forward,” said Mr Moore.

To dispose of the matter by way of a hospital order under the Mental Health Act the court would need two psychiatric reports.

Judge Statman said: “It is a very grave offence. There is a victim in this case. No doubt the victim’s health will be a whole lot better when she has some completion in her involvement in the most terrible violence that has been inflicted on her.

“That is why the court is keeping a very close watch on where we are going.”

Telling the judge he was “right on the money”, prosecutor John Fitzgerald said it would take a long time for Butcher to be assessed again.

“The victim is very anxious about the case and it being disposed of,” he added.

Mr Moore said Butcher, who was not present for the hearing, had not been transferred to a mental hospital, but was in the hospital wing at Elmley Prison in Sheppey.

Judge Statman said there would be a further hearing on October 26.