Questions have been raised into how a man known to have a violent past was able to kill a woman in an act of cannibalism just weeks after he was released from prison.
Retail worker Cerys Marie Yemm, 22, from Oakdale, was killed by 34-year-old Matthew Williams at a bed and breakfast used as a bail and homeless hostel.
Williams, a known heavy drug user, was found chewing Miss Yemm’s face by the owner of the Sirhowy Arms in Argoed in the early hours of Thursday morning, November 6, before he was tasered by police and died.
His mother, Sally Ann Williams, told the BBC he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and did not continue taking his medication after being released from prison, where he served five years for assaulting his partner.
She said he should not have been allowed to stay in the hostel and should have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, for the illness he has suffered from since he was 16.
She said: “He would see things that were not there, he would hear voices, say food was trying to poison him and he would hallucinate.
“He was aggressive to people he thought were a threat to him. He should have been in hospital.
“Every time he came out of prison, we’d go through the same process. He’d be placed in a hostel somewhere with very little supervision and no psychiatric help outside.”
A person can be sectioned under the Mental Health Act if health professionals feel an individual could be a danger to themselves or others as a result of mental illness.
On release from prison, Williams was directed to the Sirhowy Arms, where he stayed twice before, by Caerphilly County Borough Council, but a council spokesperson said they do not check the background of people who “present themselves to the council as homeless”.
He said: “We are the agency that place them in the property. In the first instance we just direct them to a place to stay.”
The Sirhowy Arms houses people made homeless by fire, those burgled or evicted, as well as those who have left prison, with residents able to access services while at the building.
But Mandy Miles, the owner of the Sirhowy Arms, told Caerphilly Observer she would not have accepted Williams if she had known about his illness and his violent past.
She said: “They can’t go into things in detail because of data protection.
“We know they’ve come out of prison and the certain things they have been in there for, but if someone said can you have a person with paranoid schizophrenia or someone who’s been in prison for five years, I wouldn’t have them because I want to relax.
“I can’t go into his medical history and if his support team feel he needs his medication, that’s down to them.”
She added that she did not know whether he had been receiving support, but said support staff visited others at the bed and breakfast as much as three to four times a day.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed a serious further offence review will be carried out by the National Probation Service in Wales – as is standard when a prisoner is alleged to have committed a serious crime within 30 days of release.
A spokeswoman for the MoJ said it would not comment on individual cases, but added that if a prisoner is released after serving their full term, the probation service would not be in contact with them.
However, Williams was released on licence at least once during his term and was recalled to prison for breaching his conditions.
Chris Evans MP for Islwyn said: “At this time, my thoughts and prayers are with Cerys Yemm’s family and friends.
“This was an horrific, violent crime, and it will be fully investigated by all the relevant authorities in due course.
“I particularly welcome the decision by the Ministry of Justice to launch a serious further offence review to see if lessons can be learned from this case.
“I spoke to Chris Burns, Chief Executive of Caerphilly County Borough Council, this weekend and he reassured me that all homeless facilities of this nature, including the Sirhowy Arms, are supported and monitored closely by the council and other appropriate agencies.”
The MP also questioned the Justice Secretary Chris Grayling MP amid calls for a review into the treatment and monitoring of mental health patients after their release from prison.
He said in the House of Commons: “Reports stated that Mr Williams was unable to get a prescription to treat his paranoid schizophrenia. He was not met at the prison gate, he was referred to a local B&B where this horrific murder took place.
“Does the Secretary of State now see the need for an urgent investigation into how mental health is treated in prison, and the monitoring of prisoners with mental health problems when released on licence?”
Mr Grayling also offered his condolences to Miss Yemm’s family and said: “It is already clear to me that lessons will need to be learned. We will need to make modifications to the way the system works in order to try to make sure that nothing horrendous like this can ever happen again.”
A spokesman for the Prison Reform Trust said it was difficult for prisoners to acclimatise in the community if they are not released on licence and supported when leaving prison.
He also said difficulties can occur when patient information needs to be passed between health boards when a prisoner is released from custody.
In Williams’ case, he was released from Parc Prison in Bridgend – an area covered by the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMUHB) – and moved to Argoed in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) area.
A spokesman for ABUHB would not say whether they had received Williams’ records because there is “an ongoing police investigation and we don’t want to say anything that would hinder that investigation”.
They said: “This is a tragic case and our thoughts are with the families involved. We will fully participate in any investigation or review that takes place into the circumstances that led up to this tragedy.”
A spokeswoman for ABMUHB would not comment on Williams’ case, but said: “One month before a patient is due for release the mental health team contact the appropriate local healthcare services within the area of the patient’s home.
“In addition, notification of release and accompanying paperwork are sent and received on the day of release.”
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is also continuing its investigation over the death of Williams after he was shot with a taser by police officers.
Gwent Police have stated they are investigating Miss Yemm’s death as murder and that detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with her death.
Putting mentally ill people in prison is asking for trouble and the worst of Iit is the convicts are now banged up all , 23 hrs a day 7 days a week is a long time .I have noticed many x prisoners are coming out worse than when they went in most are very violent very angry.Peoe who brake the law should be punished but not tortured and this is what is happening.Most are coming back again and again.These men are walking time bombs.