A paranoid schizophrenic stabbed his mother in the neck over an argument about some cigarettes before going on to stab his sister in the back and shoulder.

Preston Crown Court heard how Khavar Najmi’s family had been worried about his mental state for some time, and on December 6 last year his mother, Musarat Najmi, had been to collect her daughter, Zanub Najmi, before returning to the family home in Pleck Farm Avenue, Blackburn.

Niamh Ingham, prosecuting, told the court that Najmi was standing in the kitchen when his mother and sister got home, and he asked his mother for some cigarettes.

Ms Ingham said: “She said she would give him some after she had made tea. He called her a slut and a slag and went to his bedroom.

“His mother then went to her daughter’s room to get changed and saw the defendant stood at the bedroom door.

“He then stabbed his mother in the neck before closing the bedroom door.

“She shouted for her daughter and when she appeared, the defendant opened the bedroom door again and stabbed his sister twice, in the back and the shoulder, and then closed the bedroom door.

“The police were called and a knife was recovered from his bedroom.

“There were also suspected knife marks found on the walls in his bedroom.”

Ms Ingham said that Zanub suffered a small wound to her right upper arm and received a 3cm wound close to her shoulder.

Musarat suffered a puncture wound to her neck which required stitches.

In their victim personal statements, Ms Ingham said both Najmi’s mother and sister wanted to make it clear to the court that they “loved the defendant dearly and wanted him to get well so he could return to his normal life”.

In her statement, read to the court by Ms Ingham, Zanub Najmi said: “We come from a close-knit Muslim family and the incident had brought stigma and shame upon us.

“He needs help for his mental health which has been deteriorating for some years.”

Najmi, 36, was remanded into custody after his first appearance at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court last December, but was transferred to Guild Lodge in Preston in June under the Mental Health Act.

He appeared for his sentence hearing via video link from Guild Lodge, after pleading guilty to two counts of unlawful wounding. He has one previous conviction for criminal damage.

Defending, Stuart Duke said: “He was clearly unwell at the time of these offences.

“It’s now thanks to the remarkable work of Guild Lodge that he’s feeling much better but it’s clear he will need a lot more care and medical attention.”

Sentencing Najmi to a hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act with section 41 restrictions placed upon it, which means he can only be released once two doctors and the Secretary of State agree he is fit, Recorder Michelle Brown said: “It was very fortunate that their injuries were not more serious.

“This was an extremely frightening event for both of them and they have suffered significantly.

“They have pointed out though that they do not wish you to be punished but to be helped and they have been concerned about your mental health for some time.

“There’s a history of you refusing treatment but you are now engaging with treatment in Guild Lodge.

“The doctors concluded you are suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, and you were suffering from this at the time of committing these offences and I am satisfied that you are suffering from a mental health disorder.”