The teenager who stabbed CedarBridge security officer Kariim Wales has been sent to St. Brendan's Hospital for at least three years.

Jahmel Eugene Mallory, 18, of Tommy Fox Road, St. George's had earlier pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of 31-year-old Mr. Wales in a frenzied attack in the Ruth Seaton James theatre on March 27 last year.

At his sentencing yesterday Mallory told Supreme Court Assistant Justice Charles-Etta Simmons he was no threat to society. He said: "People said I harmed that security guard. I am prepared to accept that as I am mentally ill. My heart cries every time someone says I did it." He apologised to Mr. Wales and added: "I did not go out in public to hurt anybody".

Ms Simmons said two doctors reports had shown Mallory suffered from paranoid schizophrenia which warranted a hospital order for medical treatment.

In order to protect the public Ms Simmons imposed a restriction order meaning that Mallory cannot be released before three years. At an earlier hearing the court heard Mallory had been suffering from mental problems for about a year and a half before the attack and had attacked his father and later a bus driver the day before he stabbed Mr. Wales.

Mr. Wales suffered a collapsed lung and spent four days in the Intensive Care Unit of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. One stab wound went through his neck and through the base of his tongue. At the earlier hearing Dr. Paul Harlow, former consultant chief of psychiatry at St. Brendan's Hospital, said Mallory had been of good character but had undergone changes prior to the attack and exhibited bizarre behaviour including paranoia and delusions. In Supreme Court yesterday defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher said Dr. Harlow had said Mallory's treatment would take 18 months and that a three-year restriction order would suffice. Crown counsel Juan Wolffe said the Crown feared Mallory would not get the treatment he needed because Bermuda does not have a forensic unit.

And he questioned whether the Somer's annexe at St. Brendan's was secure enough.

He said the order to have Mallory detained should not be for a fixed period of time and Mallory should only then be released when the Minister was satisfied it was safe to do so. He said at the moment Mallory was a threat to the public: "We can't just put a fixed date on it."

Mr. Wolffe said the lack of suitable facilities was a concern. He referred to Gordon Charles Edmead who was discharged under a hospital order and then committed a rape. Edmead pleaded guilty to the charge in the November and the case was still before the courts.

"I mention Mr. Edness, that is a worst case scenario," said Mr. Wolffe. After the hearing Mr. Wales said: "I have no ill feelings towards him. He needs help.

"I believe the best judgement has been made. My only concern now is we don't have a forensic unit at St. Brendan's. Is he going to get treated in the way that he needs? When is government going to put a forensic unit in place? We are not living in a third world country."

Mr. Wales said he'd been told there were many cases involving mental conditions similar to Mallory's "It is known in St. Brendan's patients walk out. "