A MAN with a history of mental illness has been let off probation supervision after he suffered serious panic attacks during meetings.

Toby Riccard was put on supervision after harassing doctors and receptionists at a health centre in North Devon with nuisance phone calls.

He has also been made the subject of a restraining order which bans him from any contact with his former landlady Fiona McKeown, the mother of schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling, who was murdered while on holiday in Goa, India.

Riccard, aged 49, who spends some of his time at a smallholding near Holsworthy and some living with a friend in Bere Alston, suffers from severe autism and other mental health issues.

He was made subject of an 18-month community order with probation supervision last year at Exeter Crown Court after he admitted harassing medical staff.

His case was brought back before Judge Ian Lawrie, QC, in Riccard’s absence, because the probation service considered the order unworkable.

A probation service representative told the judge: ‘When he attended our office he had a full blown panic attack and hid behind his partner, who had to answer questions for him.

‘The office manager feels no constructive work can be done because of his mental health issues, so we are asking the court to revoke the order.’

Mr Glenn Corrasco, defending, said Riccard is now accessing some help through the NHS, which is more appropriate than the suppo

rt he had been receiving through probation. 

Judge Lawrie said: ‘He is clearly a deeply troubled man and something has to be done within the confines of the quite restricted availability of NHS care. We saw at the last hearing that the whole experience was distressing for him.

‘I accept the supervision element is unworkable. I am not going to ask the probation service to do something which cannot be achieved.

‘He needs interlocking mental health support. He needs people who are equipped with the experience and knowledge to deal with his quite complex psychiatric needs.

‘There have been no breaches or further offending. The community order will continue but I will give the probation service the opportunity to review it if he gets the help he needs.’