A paranoid schizophrenic has been locked up indefinitely in a mental hospital after killing his elderly mother with a hammer.

Mohammad Fazal repeatedly struck 82-year-old Saira Bibi over the head while she laid on a sofa at their home in Agar Street, Girlington, Bradford, last October.

After delivering at least 11 blows with the hammer, the 49-year-old divorced man made a 999 call saying his mother was dead.

Paramedics turned up at the house and found her body in the lounge partially covered by a blanket.

A post mortem examination showed that the mother-of-three suffered a fractured skull and severe head injuries.

Bradford Crown Court heard police searched the property and recovered the hammer and a shirt.

Both items were found to be stained with her blood. A ripped photograph of Fazal with his mother was also discovered in a bin.

Fazal was found unfit to plead earlier this week due to his mental illness after two consultant psychiatrists concluded he would not be able to instruct his lawyers, follow court proceedings or put forward a proper defence.

A jury yesterday decided after a short trial on the facts of the case that he did kill her.

Judge James Stewart QC ordered Fazal to be taken to Rampton Hospital, Nottingham-shire, and detained without limitation of time for treatment.

The jury was told Fazal had been very good to his mother, feeding and washing her.

But in the weeks and days leading up to her death, neighbours could hear them scream and shout.

Fozia Khan, who lived next door, said in a statement read to the court, she believed Fazal had been in good health, looked after his mother well and did everything for her.

But she felt his mental condition deteriorated when he stopped taking his medication.

For Fazal, defence barrister Graham Hyland QC did not call any evidence. In his closing speech he told the jury: "The end result is that you will inevitably come to the conclusion there's no evidence that anyone other than the defendant committed the act alleged."

After the unanimous finding was reached he told the court it was a sad and tragic case for Fazal and his family.

He added Fazal had been "devoted" to his mother up to the last six months of her life.