Exeter Grandmother Killed After Mental Health Failings

Seventy-four-year-old Lorna England was fatally stabbed in Ludwell Valley Park, Exeter, on 18 February 2023 as she walked home from Lidl. The attacker, 31-year-old Cameron Davis, had earlier told hospital staff and paramedics he would “kill a random” person if not sectioned but was discharged; after leaving he bought a knife and alcohol and ambushed Mrs England. Davis was arrested hours later, told police “I f***ing warned you,” and was later convicted and jailed with a minimum term of 28 years. An inquest ruled her death unlawful and the senior coroner found serious failings in mental-health care, noting Davis had been known to services since November 2021, may have “dropped off the radar” (possibly after a cyber-attack), and lacked a care coordinator. Evidence also said a mental-health nurse waited around two hours on the non-emergency 101 line trying to alert police; the family and their lawyers say the death could have been avoided and have called for changes in how potentially dangerous people are managed in the community.