A FORMER boxer convicted of trying to murder his elderly father at his Blackburn home has been made the subject of a hospital order under the Mental Health Act.

Michael Brown attacked his 84-year-old dad from behind in the bathroom, covering his eyes.

Both ended up on the floor and Ronald Brown was punched several times.

The son had insisted to a jury that he had only intended to give his father a shock after he thought the pensioner was talking about him.

But he was convicted of attempted murder.

Brown, 53, of Stenbridge Road, in South Norwood, London, also had a restriction order detaining him indefinitely when he appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court.

The court had heard that Mr Brown senior thought he was being robbed or burgled at his home in Bradda Road, in Blackburn, in October last year when the defendant attacked him during a visit.

He realised it was his son and was bewildered why it should happen.

It was said that Brown later told police he had tried to kill his dad.

Brown, who said he had been a schoolboy champion boxer in his youth, told the jury that he had not intended to kill his father.

He admitted having punched him but said this was not done much.

He had pulled back on noticing blood, something he had been trained to do as a boxer.

Several months ago, an interim hospital order had been made on the defendant, before a final sentencing hearing.

The court heard yesterday that Brown has since been treated with anti-psychotic medication at a London clinic and had responded to treatment. He was described as suffering from a delusional disorder, manifesting itself in a conspiracy theory.