The Trevor Gibbens Unit at Maidstone, where Botley has been living

by Julia Roberts

A schizophrenic who attacked his sleeping uncle with a baseball bat has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Simon Botley, 23, struck Alec Botley in the face, causing a fractured eye socket, a large gash across his forehead and two black eyes in the unprovoked assault.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that the first blow woke Mr Botley and as he leapt out of bed he was hit for a second time across the back of his shoulders.

The commotion at 2am on November 6 20011 led to Botley's grandfather running into the room and switiching on the lights, at which point Botley fled.

He was arrested when he returned to the house later in the day.

Botley, of Yarrow Road, Chatham, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that Botley had only been living with his uncle and other family members for about a month before the attack.

"i find not a shred of evidence that your uncle in any way contributed to the attack upon him and what makes it more serious is that he was sleeping at the time and you used a weapon" – judge michael carroll

Until they took him in he had been either homeless or living without a fixed address.

Prosecutor James Wing said relatives noticed that Botley appeared to be withdrawn and depressed. His grandfather had also described him as having violent outbusts.

Imposing the hospital order Judge Michael Carroll told Botley, who was flanked in the dock by four members of staff from the Trevor Gibbens psychiatric unit in Maidstone, that his family's concerns for his welfare proved justified.

"I find not a shred of evidence that your uncle in any way contributed to the attack upon him and what makes it more serious is that he was sleeping at the time and you used a weapon."

The court was told that while at the Trevor Gibbens unit, Botley had tried to attack a member of staff.

Judge Carroll added that the hospital order was to be indefinite so as to protect the public from "further attacks of unprovoked violence".

The prosecutor said Mr Botley suffered a "graphic" gash to his forehead measuring 2in wide and gaping open as much as 1.5in.

He was also said to have sustained a slight injury to a finger, believed to have been caused as Mr Botley protected his head while being struck across his shoulders.

"His injuries were not as serious as perhaps they could have been," remarked Mr Wing.

Christina Rowberry, defending, told the court it was Botley's wish to go back to hospital. "This is the most appropriate course of action as clearly he is still unwell," she said.

"The best venue is a hospital rather than a prison institution."