by Caroline Radford and Megi RychlikovaA YORK man, horrifically assaulted with a knife and hammer, was still able to express compassion today for the assailant who stalks his nightmares and is now serving two terms of life imprisonment.

Richard Clipsham and his partner, Kath Watson, of Winchester House, Lowther Terrace, knew Paul Tosdevin had been in prison when they took him into their home, but were not aware of the full horror of his earlier crime.

They accepted him as a friend and still do not know why he made the journey from his former home in Radcliffe Road, Bolton, to lay in wait for Richard and ferociously attack him at their flat last October.

Richard suffered a broken collar-bone and wounds to his head, neck and arms in the assault, which left him traumatised.

York Crown Court was told yesterday that this was the second time Tosdevin had made a long journey to attack a victim.

In 1988, he was given a life sentence at Exeter Crown Court for the manslaughter of a woman who was not receptive to his advances and was released on parole in 1994.

Judge Peter Baker QC told Tosdevin it was unfortunate that the medical reports compiled on him at Rampton Hospital did not justify a sentence under the Mental Health Act, which allows the dangerously insane to be detained indefinitely.

He jailed Tosdevin for life, recommending he should serve at least seven years before being considered for parole. Tosdevin's earlier parole was revoked after the York attack.

Mr Clipsham, who still bears the physical and mental scars of his ordeal, said he also believes Tosdevin needs psychiatric help.

"I befriended Paul the first day I met him - we were both nervous about starting a new job," said Richard."I wouldn't class him as a criminal and I hope he gets the medical help he obviously needs."

But the couple, who are still trying to put their shattered lives back together, say they are bitterly disappointed at the lack of support available to victims.

"We have been very disillusioned by it all - we didn't even know Paul was in court," said Kath."Being kept informed is so important - we can only hope we'll be told when he is released."

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