Madeley: Man jailed for killing mother after taking ketamine

Although he was arrested that night after presenting himself to officers, he was not deemed medically fit to be interviewed until the next day.

A neighbour had found Suzanne Henry badly injured inside her home, with “significant trauma” to her face and head. She died on 3 May 2023.

Northampton Crown Court heard that Henry had been addicted to ketamine, which he first took at 16, and would regularly take other illegal substances despite pleas from his family and friends to stop.

Ketamine is widely used in the NHS as an anaesthetic, sedative and pain reliever, and is also commonly used on animals.

A synthetic class B drug, it causes hallucinogenic effects.

On the afternoon of the attack, an ambulance was called for Henry by his girlfriend, who said she met him at a supermarket and he was slipping in and out of consciousness.

He told paramedics he had taken the drug, and had not been taking his medication for anxiety and depression, but refused to go to hospital.

Later that evening, his friends said that he was acting strangely, but told them he was going to get some sleep.

Ms Henry was filming his bizarre behaviour at the time of the attack, which happened during a six-minute period.

Her son has been sentenced to seven years and four months in prison, with an extra four years on extended licence.