A 19-year-old girl who glued the eyes, ears and lips of her fiance shut as he slept, before stabbing him to death was placed in custody for life today.

Paula Staines, now 19, claimed voices in her head told her to kill recluse Simon Widger, 35. Paula had told friends he was her husband-to-be.

At Lewes Crown Court on September 29, Staines admitted killing Mr Widger on the grounds of diminished responsibility at her flat in Ratton Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex. The court heard how Mr Widger had been the victim of a "savage and sadistic" attack.

Today she was placed in custody for life, with a four-year hospital order at Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire.

Judge Richard Brown said she had committed a "savage" attack and she would be sent to prison if she refused treatment at Broadmoor.

The court heard from Philip Katz, prosecuting, how, on February 28 this year, Staines glued Mr Widger's eyes, ears and lips following a series of rows, reported to sound like a "cat fight" by neighbours.

Mr Widger, of Holly Place, Eastbourne, slept as Staines began her attack, during which she smothered him with a pillow and attempted to stab him. She also struck him with an iron, kicking him in the back as she did so.

The knife then broke, the court heard, at which point Staines fell asleep, thinking she had killed him.

But Mr Widger woke, tripping over Staines. She then launched another vicious attack, stabbing him dozens of times in the neck, chest and stomach.

Staines made an attempt to clear away blood stained clothing, before taking a taxi to Beachy Head. She left a text message on a friend's mobile saying she was going to jump.

But she was picked up by police at Beachy Head. She took officers to her flat, where they found Mr Widger's body.

Mr Katz said: "She told the police 'He is not dead, not really. I heard voices. I did not want to do it, but they told me to'.

"It was a gruesome and gory attack."

The court heard how in November 1998, Staines was given two years' probation for stabbing Mr Widger, and then sent to a young offenders' institute for nine months for fighting with a woman who lived above her flat. She was released in October 1999.

She is alleged to have spent most of a £3,000 compensation award made to Mr Widger following Staines' first knife attack on him.

Broadmoor psychiatrist Fiona Mason told the court that Staines had a severe psychopathic disorder and would be a risk to inmates in a normal prison.