A FATHER whose mentally ill son tried to stab him to death has said he bears no ill will towards his attacker.

Andrew Shorter, of Long Wall, Oxford, yesterday pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of 79-year-old Ian Shorter and was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Prosecutor Michael Roques said the 57-year-old shouted “you’re going to die you b*****d” before stabbing his father six times with two large kitchen knives.

Speaking after the hearing Ian Shorter said if it had not been for a plumber, who helped him disarm his son, he would have died.

The attack happened at about 8am on July 4 last year in the home Andrew Shorter and his father had shared for 50 years, Mr Roques said at Oxford Crown Court.

The barrister told Judge Ian Pringle they were watching TV when the defendant left the room and returned with a “wild” look on his face carrying two knives and stabbed his father in the shoulder.

Mr Roques said Ian Shorter’s 87-year-old wife Cathleen ran to get help from Jonathan Cox, a plumber doing work on their bathroom.

The prosecutor said Mr Cox pulled the knife out of the hand of the defendant, who was calmly saying “I want to kill my Dad”. The court heard Andrew Shorter then got a bread knife from the kitchen and continued stabbing his father, Mr Roques said, but was restrained and dropped the weapon when police arrived.

He said Ian Shorter suffered stab wounds to his chest and abdomen, four in his front and two in his back, and will have permanent scarring.

Mr Roques added that Andrew Shorter suffered from persistent delusional disorder, had a fixation with his father.

Judge Pringle said Andrew Shorter would be indefinitely detained at a mental health facility.

He also praised Mr Cox for his bravery.