Thornton Heath: Samurai sword attacker Eden Strang has decided to relocate and continue with his treatment for his mental illness following the row over his early release last week.

The 29-year-old paranoid schizophrenic, who rampaged naked through a Thornton Heath church two and a half years ago, was voluntarily moved after it was revealed he had been discharged from hospital and re-housed in neighbouring borough Sutton just seven miles from the scene of his horrifying attack.

Strang, now described as a "low risk" to himself and the public, was spotted shopping in Wallington two weeks ago after he was discharged from a 21-month hospital stay in March.

None of his 11 victims were notified of his release. The Home Office admitted an administrative error led to Strang being treated as a civil patient when he should have been detained under the direction of the Home Secretary, which is why the local authorities were not warned of his arrival in Sutton.

Despite a report in the national press last week, which said that the Metropolitan Police were looking at the possibility of bringing new charges against Strang in order to detain him indefinitely, a spokesman from Scotland Yard has confirmed - on consultation with the CPS - there is "no intention to arrest or prosecute" him.

A meeting of senior officers from the Met Police last Thursday (July 4), chaired by Commander Andre Baker and attended by a Home Office representative, discussed Eden Strang's case.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Following the recent attention, Eden Strang has chosen to continue with his treatment. We are not discussing where.

"Although Eden Strang was not convicted, the court finding was for him to receive his treatment, which he continues to respond to positively. This was fully acknowledged by the meeting.

"The victims are being immediately informed of all the facts around the case by family liaison officers."

Strang walked into St Andrew's Church in November 1999 and started hacking at the congregation before parishioners wrestled him to the ground.

He was found not guilty due to insanity of 13 charges, including seven attempted murders. At his Old Bailey trial in 2000, a judge ordered him to be detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act.

July 12, 2002 11:00