Sheila Morgan, 72, (pictured) was slashed as she and her husband struggled with crazed killer Keiran Wathan
A brave grandmother died of a flesh eating bug after she was knifed by a homeless burglar she found asleep in her bed, a court heard.
Sheila Morgan, 72, was slashed as she and her husband struggled with crazed killer Keiran Wathan who described himself as ‘the living dead’.
She died five days later of necrotising fasciitis which was caused by the knife wound inflicted by Wathan at her home in Swansea.
Judge Wyn Williams today gave Wathan an 18 year extended sentence of which he will serve 13 years behind bars.
He told Wathan: ‘Mrs Morgan was stabbed with a knife you took into her home as she sought to assist her husband.
‘It was a reckless act – you did not deliberately stab her.
‘It was to start a terrible train of events – her wound became infected, causing organ failure and she died.
‘You are directly responsible for her death after deliberately engaging in serious violence on Mrs Morgan and her husband.’
The judge classified Wathan as a dangerous offender for his previous crimes, and for taking a weapon into the ‘sanctuary’pf the Morgans’s home.
A court heard Mrs Morgan found Wathan asleep in her bed after he crept in while the family were watching TV.
Before she died, mother-of-three Mrs Morgan gave police a graphic account of the attacks.
Elwen Evans, prosecuting, said: ‘She saw a lump in the bed and realised a man was asleep under the covers.
‘She ran downstairs and told her husband: ‘There’s a bloke in our bed.’
‘He told her not to be so daft but she convinced him and went upstairs carrying a small hammer.’
Wayne Morgan, 65, came down holding Wathan by the scruff of the neck and straddled him on the settee while his wife dialled 999.
Miss Evans added: ‘They were tussling and Wathan was telling the terrified couple he was the living dead.
‘At some point Wathan wrestled the hammer free and rained at least a dozen blows onto Mr Morgan’s head and face.
‘Mrs Morgan bravely tried to pull him off her husband – she said he had a wild look on his face.
‘She didn’t see the small Stanley-type knife he was carrying.’
The court heard the father-of-one Wathan escaped and told friends later that evening: ‘I killed someone and I actually enjoyed it.’
Miss Evans said: ‘Mrs Morgan was not at all focused on her own injury but was very, very concerned about the state of her husband.’
Swansea Crown Court heard Mr Morgan was admitted to hospital but his wife was treated by her GP for the slash to her right forearm.
The court heard Keiran Wathan (pictured) was homeless at the time of the attack on March 12
She became seriously ill at the family home in Morriston, Swansea, and was admitted to hospital where her arm was amputated before she died.
Home Office pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbetter said Mrs Morgan died of multiple organ failure due to necrotising fasciitis.
The court heard Watrhan was homeless at the time of the attack on March 12 after being given a restraining order preventing him from contacting his mother.
He had been drinking and taken drugs before trying numerous front doors in Morriston where the Morgan’s was left open.
The Morgans were carers for their son Michael, who has learning difficulties, and lives at home.
In a victim impact statement Mr Morgan said his wife was ‘forgiving, kind and thoughtful.’
The day after the attack she told her husband: ‘I hope that guy is okay, he seemed very troubled.’
Mr Morgan, too upset to attend court, said in a written statement: ‘We had saved for our retirement and looking forward to that time together.
‘This has immensely changed our lives and the lives Sheila touched forever.’
Wathan, of Godregraog, Swansea, admitted manslaughter, wounding with intent and possessing a bladed weapon.
The court heard he had a previous record for violence, burglary and possessing a knife.
Detective Inspector Peter Collins said after the case: ‘Knife crime is unacceptable this case shows the devastating effect the criminal use of a knife can have on an individual and their family.
‘This was a tragic case and the circumstances have brought great shock and sadness to the local community.’