A paranoid schizophrenic who throttled a 78-year-old woman until she was on the brink of death has been locked up indefinitely.

At Chelmsford Crown Court, Liamanda Webb, 32, of Homestead Gardens, Hadleigh, admitted trying to strangle pensioner Yvonne Bullock until she slipped into unconsciousness.

Webb, a former croupier who had travelled the world with her work, had stopped taking medication for schizophrenia because she mistakenly thought she was well again.

Friends and family soon noticed her condition had deteriorated by August last year and persuaded her to visit a doctor who prescribed the vital medication.

On the way to the chemist in London Road, Hadleigh, Webb's behaviour worsened and her sister became so worried she ran back to the doctor's surgery to get help. Knowing the disturbed state Webb was in, the doctor rang 999.

In the meantime, Webb got to the chemist and found it closed. Crying, she hammered on the intercom of Yvonne Bullock's flat next door.

The kindly woman answered the call and, hearing Webb's distress, went downstairs to help her. She found the woman standing, staring at her, before she pushed past and up the stairs.

Mrs Bullock asked her to leave but Webb set upon her and punched her in the chest and upper body before pushing her to the floor and kicking her legs.

Somehow, a bleeding Mrs Bullock managed to follow Webb into the bedroom but she was thrown onto the bed.

Angela Morris, prosecuting, said: "The defendant sat astride her, placed her hands around Mrs Bullock's throat and started to strangle her. Mrs Bullock, struggling for breath, screamed with pain and then lost consciousness."

Mrs Bullock cannot remember how, but during the assault she managed to telephone 999.

Quick-thinking PC Peter Edmondson heard both 999 calls over his radio, put two and two together and dashed to the flat.

Miss Morris said: "He went in and saw the defendant crouching over Mrs Bullock with her hands around Mrs Bullock's throat. He grabbed her and arrested her with the help of other officers who arrived at the scene."

Paramedics found Mrs Bullock in a life-threatening situation where she was literally gasping her last breath.

Her jaw was locked and medics were forced to use an oxygen mask as they could not clear her airways.

The pensioner was rushed to Southend Hospital where she was kept in for three weeks.

Webb, who has been at Runwell Hospital since her arrest, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm.

Judge Brian Watling QC, passing sentence, said: "For the protection of the public, there must never be a repetition of this kind of conduct. There is only one sentence that is appropriate."

Webb was detained under section 41 of the Mental Health Act because of the danger she represents to the public.

It means that she will not be freed until the Home Secretary decides she is well enough.

She must also receive ongoing psychiatric treatment.

Praised by judge - hero PC Peter Edmondson

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