THE mother of triple killer Tom Saunders described how her son’s mental illness deteriorated to the point he would not eat for fear his food was being poisoned.

In the months before he stabbed Danny Gibson, 35, his brother Jason, 31, and Richard Booth, 35, in Colchester, Saunders had begun to feel “everyone was after him”.

During the hearing, his barrister Tracy Ayling QC read a statement made by Saunders’ mother Christine.

She said: “He had put extra locks on the door and rarely left the house.”

She said her son did not take any medication and refused to be referred to a psychiatrist as he felt “they were all against him”.

She added: “He would not eat as he thought his food was being poisoned, even if I cooked for him.

“He also regularly unplugged the internet as he felt people were listening to him.”

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She added: “He honestly thought we were all going to be murdered by the Government.

“He was so delusional that if I tried to say anything to him he would twist it to fit his delusions.

“Tom had not eaten anything for three days, nor had he slept for three days either, as he was paranoid that he was going to be killed.”

Saunders, of Bounstead Road, Colchester, was arrested and a lengthy investigation into his mental health followed.

All forensic psychiatrists involved in the case agreed Saunders suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.

Saunders admitted three counts of manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility, pleas which were accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Saunders was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 18 years and eight months until he can be considered for parole.

He will remain at a high security hospital until he is deemed medically fit to be transferred to prison.