‘Catalogue of failures’ led to beheading death

The family of a British grandmother who was beheaded by a Bulgarian drug addict in Tenerife has said a “catalogue of failings” led to her death, and have demanded an inquiry from the British health authority that freed her killer.

Deyan Deyanov, 29, was found guilty yesterday of murdering Jennifer Mills- Westley, 60, in May 2011.

The homeless man repeatedly stabbed and beheaded his victim who had been shopping in Los Cristianos.

Deyanov denied murder. His defence argued he was not criminally responsible because he suffers acute paranoid schizophrenia.

In a statement, the family said the care of people like Deyanov should be taken more seriously.

“He is a young man who has clearly been failed by a number of authorities, in the UK, Spain, and most likely others.”

On the morning of the murder, Deyanov had walked into a shop and asked for a knife “this big” because he was going to kill someone. He then went to the Mas Articulos Mejor Precios shop, picked up a 22cm-long knife and plunged it repeatedly into Ms Mills-Westley’s neck.

He walked out carrying her head before being arrested. A warrant for his arrest had been issued just three days before. He had previously been sectioned in Wales and Tenerife.

Asked in court if he had anything to say, he told his interpreter: “I am the second reincarnation of Jesus Christ and I will bring the fire of the Holy Spirit to bear against this court.”