A former abattoir worker smashed an old woman ov

A former abattoir worker smashed an old woman over the head and
then drank the blood as it flowed from her wounds.

Mark Heggie, 26, attacked 61-year-old Alison Da Costa within hours
of being released on bail by an Old Bailey judge in July last year.

Heggie later shocked police by claiming he had drunk blood while
working in abattoirs and other blood-letting industries.

He appeared at the Old Bailey again on Friday and was sent
for psychiatric assessment at Rampton Hospital for the criminally insane.

Heggie had appeared in court on July 27 last year accused of
burgling a home in Denning Road, Hampstead, where he had been staying
in return for doing odd jobs.

He was given bail by Judge Nina Lowry for the May 23 burglary with
the warning: ‘Don’t be a complete fool and go to the nearest pub and
start drinking.

‘
Heggie told her he would not touch a drop.

Within hours, he had burgled a house in Parliament Hill, Hampstead,
stealing champagne, sherry, whisky and wine.

Soon afterwards, he met Mrs Da Costa.

Both were from Glasgow and
struck up an immediate friendship.

She invited him back to her home in Templar Avenue, Golders Green.

He attacked her there, suddenly smashing her over the head with a
bottle and trying to strangle her with a bar.

Heggie then began hitting her with the brass bar until the end flew
off.

Probably thinking that she was dead, he fled through neighbouring
backyards.

Police were called and arrested him after one of the
neighbours complained that he had broken their fence.

Heggie was covered in blood but police had no idea who his victim
had been until Mrs Da Costa managed to struggle out of her home after
more than 24 hours of drifting in and out of consciousness.

When quizzed about the attack, he shocked detectives by confessing
he had drunk the blood flowing from Mrs Da Costa’s head wounds.

Heggie also admitted he had sought out jobs in the blood-letting
industries and had drunk animal blood in the past.

He was accused of attempted murder and burglary.

In court he admitted both charges, together with the May 23
burglary.

Judge Kenneth Richardson QC, told him: ‘You inflicted horrific
injuries upon this lady and attempted to strangle her.

‘It is quite obvious that you may well be suffering from a serious
psychopathic disorder.

‘
He ordered that Heggie, a carpenter, be taken to Rampton Hospital
for psychiatric assessment and suggested that a permanent hospital
order would eventually be made.

ENDS
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