Man jailed for stabbing to death his ex and her fiancé at sheltered housing complex

A man who killed his ex-girlfriend and her 86-year-old fiancé at Fernways sheltered housing complex, has been jailed for 19 years.

51-year-old Paul Mallin, who's been living at the sheltered housing unit in Ilford, where individuals with varied care needs live, killed his ex-girlfriend Karen Reid (aged 53) and her new partner John Down (aged 86) last September, after becoming jealous of the happy couple’s relationship.

On the evening of 5 September, a Fernways staff member witnessed Paul Mallin inside John Down’s flat repeatedly stabbing Karen Reid as she sat in her wheelchair. By this stage, Mr Mallin had already fatally stabbed John Down with a carving knife.

The police were called at 10.20pm and Fernways staff detained Mr Mallin until they arrived on the scene.

Mallin admitted two counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey on 18 April and the prosecution accepted his pleas on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The court was told Mr Mallin had depression, anxiety and schizoid personality disorder and had never had worked.

Sentencing, Judge Richard Marks QC, told Paul Mallin “You had become increasingly bitter and resentful at the way things had turned out leading to considerable friction between you and them.”

Karen Reid broke up with Paul Mallin and began a relationship with John Down at Fernways when the Mr Down moved into the care home after suffering from a broken hip.

The sheltered housing complex in Cecil Road, Ilford, supports people with mental health conditions, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, dementia as well as those over the age of 65. The site received a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission on 25 November 2014.

Redbridge Care, registered as a home care agency run by the London Borough of Redbridge, provides home care for tenants at Fernways sheltered housing.

A spokesman London Borough of Redbridge, speaking on behalf of Fernways, said: “No one could have predicted this very sad and tragic outcome. Paul Mallin was housed at Fernways under an independent tenancy and was not receiving support from statutory services.”