Knifeman tried to kill a seven-year-boy during a triple stabbing at a family home

Byron Stubbs used a kitchen knife to attack the child and two women while he was out on bail for rape.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Stubbs had called 999 after the late night knife attacks, in Sunderland, and confessed he had stabbed three people.

Prosecutor Jolyon Perks said police arrived at the house and Stubbs was standing outside with "significant contact blood staining" on his hands and clothing, which he confirmed "wasn't his".

The court heard one of the women had a knife wound to her ear and the other had an injury to her finger, as well as defensive wounds from where she tried to stop the attack on the child.

Mr Perks said the little boy was "crying and holding his belly", had blood on his clothing and added: "He had a serious wound to his abdomen with fat protruding from it."

The child had other stab wounds, including defensive injuries, and was taken to hospital where it was discovered that the blade had penetrated his liver.

His mum said in an impact statement he was a "happy little boy" until the attack and added: "We have seen his behaviour massively decline. He lashes out at teachers, pulled a chair over in class, tried to escape from school.

"If anyone is behind him he freaks out. I believe this is due to him being stabbed from behind.

"He is petrified of knives. If we are washing dishes and he sees a knife he has as meltdown."

She added: "We thought we were going to lose our son. No parent should have to go through that."

Stubbs, 25, of no fixed address, admitted the unconnected rape charge, attempted murder and two charges of wounding with intent in relation to the stabbings.

Josh Normanton, defending, said Stubbs was suffering from a psychotic illness, likely to be schizophrenia, at the time of the stabbings and added: "This is not to take away from the horror of the incident.

"No seven-year-old in his Christmas pyjamas should have to face what he faced.

"Mr Stubbs is very sorry for what happened."

Mr Normanton said mental illness played a "significant part" in what happened but the court heard Stubbs had been using drugs, drinking and not sleeping in the days beforehand.

The court heard Stubbs, who was a user of MDMA, ecstasy, ketamine and cocaine, had been having "religious delusions" about God and the devil.

Judge Robert Adams said Stubbs had severe mental illness at the time of the stabbings and had also been "cocaine binging".

Stubbs was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order.

Judge Adams said his eventual release will be under psychiatric supervision and added: "The risk to the public is very great and will remain so for a very long time."

Stubbs was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life as a result of the rape, which involved him attacking a drunk woman while she was unconscious and recording what he did.