A Lakenheath man who stabbed a schoolgirl in the stomach for no apparent reason has been made the subject of a hospital order.

A Suffolk man who stabbed a schoolgirl in the stomach for no apparent reason has been made the subject of a hospital order.

Following the incident in Lakenheath in December last year, Neil Rolph turned the knife on himself and was covered in blood and rambling when police arrived on the scene, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The victim of the attack was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with a stab wound to her stomach but has since made a full physical recovery, said Andrew Thompson, prosecuting.

Rolph, 48, who was living in Lakenheath, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was made the subject of a hospital order under the Mental Health Act without restriction of time for the protection of the public.

Sentencing Rolph, Judge Rupert Overbury said he had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and needed to be detained in hospital for further treatment.

He said it was still not known what had triggered the attack. “This extraordinary episode remains completely inexplicable,” said the judge.