A man who attempted to murder a woman with a chainsaw believed he was the masked killer Jason Voorhees from the horror film 'Friday the 13th', a court has heard.
The Attack
Cray Allen, 40, purchased the chainsaw from Argos and carried out the attack at the Anahita Recovery Centre in Lee, south-east London, on Friday, June 13 last year. The victim awoke shortly after midnight to find Allen standing at the foot of her bed, chainsaw in hand, with what she described as an 'angry and evil' expression.
Allen called her a 'b***h' before 'going at her with the chainsaw', causing injuries to her hands, arms, and face. Another resident intervened to stop the attack.
Background and Fixation
Allen was fixated with the 'Friday the 13th' franchise and was born on a Friday the 13th. He had previously purchased Jason Voorhees' iconic hockey mask and used an image of the villain as his WhatsApp profile picture. In the days before the attack, his mother contacted the local community health team, expressing concerns about his deteriorating mental health and the approaching date. However, no steps were taken to mitigate the risk.
Court Proceedings
At Woolwich Crown Court, Allen pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm but denied attempted murder. A jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to a hospital order with special restrictions on Monday (27 April). The court heard that Allen was suffering from psychosis with auditory hallucinations at the time of the attack.
When arrested, Allen told police he saw lightning strikes and heard voices telling him the victim had been angering God. He claimed he was appointed by God to punish her, similar to how Jason punishes characters in the films.
Victim Impact
In a statement, the victim said: 'I'm traumatised by the incident and I'm reminded of it every time I look at my hands as they are covered in scars. I really felt like he was going to kill me in that moment.'
Judge Christopher Grout described the incident as 'like the plot of a horror movie' and noted that the attack could have resulted in more serious injuries or death if not for the intervention of another resident. He criticised the facility for failing to detect the chainsaw and for not sharing the outcome of their internal investigation with police or the court.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr Osman Hussain advised that the public would be better protected if Allen received treatment in a hospital rather than prison. The hospital order means Allen will remain in hospital for as long as deemed necessary.
