A man who carried out the "merciless killing" of a mum and daughter has been convicted of their manslaughter because of diminished responsibility.

Paranoid schizophrenic Jack Ralph, 28, plunged a kitchen knife into his neighbours "in a blind rage" at a house in Carpenters Lane, Hadlow .

Now a jury has rejected a defence of murder by insanity - but ruled he was guilty of their unlawful killings because of his mental illness.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb ruled that Ralph should remain in a high security psychiatric hospital and made a Hospital Order under the Mental Health Act 1983.

That will mean he will be detained indefinitely under Section 41 of the Act.

She told Ralph: "The devastation you have wrought that innocent family will be a legacy Mr Harris has to face every day.

“His absence (for the trial) in word and body speaks eloquently of the unnatural horror of what you did and the endless suffering he and all the loved ones will endure.”

Ralph and his victims Margaret Harris and daughter Sharon had been neighbours and often enjoyed a "laugh and a joke"

But on the day in September 2018 Ralph had typed into his iPhone: "How long for murder?"

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court heard how Ralph had gone to their home and knocked.

Prosecutor Phillip Bennetts said it was answered by Margaret's husband David, 76, who asked: "What's wrong with you, Jack?"

He said that Ralph then produced a large kitchen knife from behind his back - and Mr Harris and daughter Sharon immediately tried to slam shut the door.

Mr Harris then tried to arm himself with a rolling pin to defend his family but was repeatedly "bashed" with the knife.

He later recalled:"I ran to try and get the rolling pin to try and tried to hit him to stop him."

The jury heard how he was repeatedly stabbed as he tried to summon help from the emergency services - before passing out.

Police officers arrived to find the front and rear doors locked - and a body on the floor.

A police officer forced his way ink and discovered 77-year-old Margaret and their 55-year-old daughter Sharon badly injured.

Mr Bennetts said they died at the scene - David Harris was then taken to Kings College Hospital in London.

The court heard how Ralph took off his blood soaked jumper and left it in his bedroom before calling his car insurance company to cancel the policy.

Detectives found him sat on the sofa at his home with his hands above his head and he was arrested.

The jury heard he asked police if he could call the insurance company again before telling them:"I'm in full regret"

He later told police: "I was in a blind rage. I think I was wearing a hoody."

Ralph claimed he had strong hands "because of doing Brazilian Jujitsu" and was "fully trained... I'm a strong guy".

Ralph, who sat in the dock surrounded by staff from Broadmoor mental hospital, made no reaction to the sentence of guilty to attempted murder of Mr Harris.

The prosecutor said the family were too distressed to make statements telling the judge of the impact the killings have had on their lives.

Ralph denied murder and attempted murder on the grounds of insanity.

Shortly after the incident, Sharon Harris’ outstanding work ethic was remembered as colleagues revealed she had not had a day off sick in 33 years.

She worked as a UK sales executive at Salter Housewares in Tonbridge, which is part of FKA Brands Ltd.

Simon Bluring, managing director at FKA Brands Ltd, said: “We are all deeply shocked by the tragic news of Sharon’s death. She will be sadly missed by all her friends and colleagues."

Michael Maile, 75, who lives nearby, told of his shock after living on Carpenters Lane for 32 years.

He said: “Usually nothing happens here, now we are scared. It’s a scary thing to live near.

“We knew the Harris family, me and my wife would say ‘hello’ when we saw them.

“They were quiet, reserved people, and Margaret never left the house. She was frail, no-one has seen her for a year.”

Libby Clark, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “This has been an extremely tragic case, with a mother and daughter killed in their home by their neighbour, someone they had known for many years.

“As soon as the case was brought to the CPS by the police for an initial charging decision, it was clear that the defendant’s mental state at the time of the killings would be key, as he admitted what he had done and there was strong forensic evidence against him. The verdicts in this case reflect that.

“We would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the family of the victims and particularly David Harris, who lost his wife and daughter in this horrendous attack. None of us can imagine what they have all gone through over the last few months.

“They have been regularly updated with progress on this case and they have remained fully supportive throughout. We hope that now they can start to move on with their lives.”

Detective Inspector Kaye Braybrook of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "This was a horrific attack on three neighbours who had no reason to suspect Ralph intended to harm them when he called at their home.

"His actions have left a man with life-changing injuries and mourning the loss of both his wife and daughter.

"Whilst today’s verdict is unlikely to ease the pain and suffering of those who were close to Margaret and Sharon Harris the courts have at least ensured that Ralph will be detained indefinitely in a secure and appropriate facility and that the public are protected."

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.