Plymouth man given hospital order for killing his mother
Bradley's father and Hazel's husband Guy says he hopes his son could one day help others
Last updated 13th May 2024
A Plymouth man who repeatedly stabbed his mother - someone the court today heard was a 'lovely woman' who 'cared very deeply' for him - was today told he won't be released from hospital until deemed safe.
In a deeply emotional victim impact statement, Bradley's father and Hazel's husband Guy Huggins reflected on the 'devastation' he felt and how the impact of his wife's death 'literally hit thousands of people' across her various social and Christian networks worldwide.
Emergency services were called to Mrs Huggins' son's address in Ilbert Street in July last year, where she was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple stab wounds.
Bradley Huggins, 25, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility at an earlier hearing in March and today appeared in court via video link wearing a black hoody.
Father Guy Huggins reflected on the 'loss of my precious wife and soul mate', and told the court he had forgiven his son, who he hoped one day could help others emerge from mental health struggles.
Mr Huggins also reflected on the impact on the couple's other son, who had only got married a few weeks before his mother's death. Mr Huggins reflected on how he still 'loves his son' Bradley and 'will always love him until the day I die' but he should not be released until it was safe.
Mr Huggins spoke about the 'enduring and total sense of loss' felt by many people after the death of Hazel and thanked the Christian community - including at Hope Dawlish - for their ongoing support and prayers.
Guy Huggins also revealed he had lost confidence in mental health services - but stressed today's sentencing was not the place to delve deeper into that concern.
The court was told Bradley had a long history of serious mental health difficulties, whilst abusing alcohol and drugs. He had previously been admitted to Torbay hospital, spent time at other support services and hadn't always regularly taken his anti-psychotic medication.
Christopher Quinlan KC, reminded the court there had been a history of family violence with the defendant. Judge Johnson was told the defendant had assaulted his father on more than one occasion and his father had previously been forced to protect his mother from her son.
The court was told the defendant suffered from schizophrenia, with examples of delusions and hallucinations cited.
Mr Guy Huggins – husband to Hazel Huggins, 53, and father to Bradley Huggins - had dropped his wife to their son's apartment to help clean it around 1130am on July 29th, 2023, before returning to pick her up at 4pm.
When no answer was received from Mrs Huggins' phone, he knocked on the door and received WhatsApp messages from his son saying things like 'it was made peaceful'.
Both the father and son called emergency services, who attended the scene by 430pm but were unable to save Mrs Huggins.
The defendant later told police 'it's all over now' but officers also reflected that lots of what was being said 'made little sense'.
No illegal drugs or alcohol were found in Bradley's system at the time of the offence. The court was told Bradley 'echoes his father's wish to lead a better and more constructive life in the memory of his mother'.
In passing sentence, Judge Johnson praised the 'moving, heart-rending and courageous tribute' by husband Guy and how the loss of mother Hazel was 'immeasurable' to all who knew and cared for her.
The judge told Bradley how 'she loved you' and wanted to help him live a more independent life - and was doing that when she was killed after he'd taken Umbridge over not being given money - and while also delusional that his mother was in league with a 'gang trying to expose you as a peadophile'.
He said Bradley was 'clearly dangerous' and 'that risk remains and remains high'.