A MAN who stabbed his victim multiple times around the head and threw hot liquid over him has been sentenced at Chester Crown Court.

Joshua Houghton stabbed Paul Cooke, 62, while inside the victim’s studio flat.

He has been detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.

Mr Cooke was found by neighbours at Brocklehurst Mews in Tytherington, Macclesfield,  shortly after the attack, at about 9pm on Friday 20 December 2019, with serious wounds to his head.

He was treated by paramedics at the scene and was taken to Macclesfield District General Hospital where he died a short time later.

The 26-year-old appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday, August 6, 2021, and pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

At Chester Crown Court on Friday, May 13, 2022, Houghton was sentenced for unlawfully killing Mr Cooke.

The judge ruled that he should be detained at a secure hospital until such a time he is deemed no longer to be a risk to the community.

Houghton had been living at his victim's home sporadically over a period of 18 months.

On the night Mr Cooke died neighbours heard noises and banging coming from his flat and went to investigate.

When they arrived, they saw Houghton fleeing the property leaving him in the kitchen area.

The wall and flooring in the kitchen were heavily blood stained.

A frying pan with the handle broken off had blood inside. Remnants of cooking fat were found thrown around the kitchen and damage had been caused to the wall after it was hit at least eight times with the pan.

A bloodstained kitchen knife was recovered with Mr Cooke's and Houghton’s DNA on it.

An investigation into his death commenced and a sustained manhunt located Houghton at a local address the following morning where he was swiftly arrested.

Houghton was detained under the Mental Health Act and has since remained in hospital.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Kate Tomlinson said: “Paul was the victim of an extremely violent and terrifying assault by Houghton who attacked him in his own home.

“Houghton then fled the address leaving Paul alone in the kitchen with catastrophic injuries. Those living near Paul and paramedics who arrived shortly afterwards desperately tried to help him however his injuries were too severe and he died not long after arriving at hospital.

“It has been a difficult and long process to get to this stage and secure justice for Paul and his family.

“My thoughts continue to be with them and I want to thank them for their patience over the last three years.”