RUSSELL Harvey was stabbed more than 40 times by his son, Steven, in a frenzied attack in the bedroom of his Ipswich home, a court heard.As he lay dying, slumped against his bed, he told the neighbour who had bee summoned to help: "let me be".

RUSSELL Harvey was stabbed more than 40 times by his son, Steven, in a frenzied attack in the bedroom of his Ipswich home, a court heard.

As he lay dying, slumped against his bed, he told the neighbour who had bee summoned to help: "let me be".

Yesterday Steven Harvey, admitted the manslaughter of his father at their home in Rubens Road, Ipswich.

Karim Khalil, QC, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Crown Court Steven's brother Mark had heard "unusual" sounds coming from his father's bedroom at about 2am on January 4.

He then ran to the home of neighbours shouting, "my dad has been hit".

Steven Harvey was then seen coming out of his father's room.

An ambulance crew arrived took Mr Harvey to Ipswich Hospital, where he suffered a cardiac arrest and died about an hour later.

Mr Khalil said: "The neighbour came in and saw he was badly injured.

"Moments later, she heard the defendant shouting 'help'. She spoke to him and also to the father, who was still breathing.

"All he was able to say was 'let me be'."

The court heard Steven Harvey, 43, had a lifelong history of learning and psychological difficulties.

Mr Khalil said Steven struggled to cope with his mother's death: "After her death home life became exceptionally fraught and the defendant's father was unable to cope with the extreme burden placed upon him."

Mr Khalil said Mrs Harvey had ensured her son had enough alcohol to "keep him level" but after her death his father had tried to reduce it, leading to an argument on January 3. Mr Harvey was stabbed to death the following morning. A blood-stained knife was found at the house.

On January 6, Steven Harvey was charged with murder. All he said was: "I killed my poor dada."

The court was told there had been 12 previous matters of assault, which led to hospital orders.

Michael Hubbard, QC, mitigating for Harvey, said doctors who assessed Harvey believed he was suffering from mental impairment, and a psychopathic disorder.

Mr Justice Hunt sentenced Harvey to detainment without restriction under the mental health act. A formal verdict of not guilty to murder was recorded.