A man carrying a knife brought panic and terror to city streets as he launched into a 90-minute frenzy, stabbing strangers unlucky enough to cross his path.

Zephaniah McLeod, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, stabbed eight innocent people at random in Birmingham city centre, killing much-loved graduate from Crosby, Jacob Billington, and leaving his close friend in a coma.

Sheffield Hallam University graduate trainee Jacob was killed after McLeod plunged a knife into his neck as he walked back to his hotel with friends.

READ MORE:Vigilantes batter and stamp on flasher in park

The 28-year-old, who had been hearing voices telling him to 'harm' or 'kill' people for years, a court heard, discarded his knife in a drain after attacking three unsuspecting victims in the early hours of September 6, 2020.

During his trial, a court heard McLeod remained "calm" and "smirked" as he went on a random stabbing spree across Birmingham - even telling one onlooker "watch this."

McLeod was handed a life sentence at Birmingham Crown Court this afternoon, reports Birmingham Live.

He asked pizza shop staff for a knife to 'cut something', and when they refused, he took a taxi to his Selly Oak home where he rearmed himself and returned to the heart of the city for five more brutal attacks.

McLeod, of Nately Grove, Selly Oak was told he will serve a minimum term of 21 years in a hybrid order before he is eligible for release as the three day hearing came to an end today, Thursday, Nov 18.

He will first be detained in Ashworth Hospital under a section 45A order for treatment for his mental health and may be transferred to prison.

Judge Pepperall said: "Such sentence ensures you will first obtain treatment. If you are fit you will be transferred to prison."

Zephaniah McLeod pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of university worker Jacob Billington
Zephaniah McLeod pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of university worker Jacob Billington

Karim Khalil QC, prosecuting, had told the court McLeod's violent past, planning before and during the incident and fact he targeted their necks aggravated the disastrous offences.

He told the court: "His previous convictions involve reported serious violence, clearly relevant of their own accord.

"There was a significant degree of planning or premeditation shown by him pre-arming himself and, having committed three offences, asking for another weapon to be provided and that being declined, asking a taxi to wait for him, rearming himself and setting about further assaults that follow."

The planning was not just before the attacks began, but "during the course" of his horrifying offences, he added.

Other aggravating features included the use of two weapons, the vulnerability of Jacob Billington as he was intoxicated and the fact he largely targeted the victims' necks.

Michael Burrows QC, defending, told the court of McLeod's "remorse", reading his letter of apology aloud to court on his behalf.

McLeod's letter read: "I would like to apologise to all the people affected by my actions. I would also like to apologise to the family members.

"Sorry they have to go through this." Mr Burrows added: "He is shocked and horrified at what he's done. He is truly sorry.

Keep up to date with what's happening in your area by entering your postcode below

"He cannot undo what he has done. He has pleaded guilty to the full extent. He should be given credit for that.

"He knows I cannot ask for leniency and whatever happens, the effect will be he will lose his liberty for a very long time if not his life.

"He knows he may remain there [at Ashworth Hospital] indefinitely. The one thing he does not want is for anything like this to be repeated.

"That mental illness means his responsibility is truly diminished. His insight into his mental illness is limited, it is limited, now, even a year after the offences.

He added: "The true position, we say, is that he had little insight into his mental illness.

"All that has to be judged against the background that he had this mental illness for years and did not act in the horrific way he did on September 6.

"For years he was saying he heard voices, for years he didn't act on them. Of course, he is a man who presents real danger to the public.

"The emphasis, we say, should be the long term protection of the public. He should not be punished to the highest levels because of his mental illness."

His mental illness would be "very challenging to treat" in prison and he would present a risk to other inmates and staff there, he argued.

Psychiatrist Dr Kenney-Herbert also addressed concerns over the "potential risks posed to others in a prison setting" - including to those attempting to supervise him in jail.

He told the court McLeod would need life long treatment in a high security hospital to manage his paranoid schizophrenia.

Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here