A paranoid schizophrenic today admitted stabbing a university lecturer to death in a park.

Mark Loveridge, 39, from Mitcham in south-west London, knifed Daniel Young as the 30-year-old walked to Morden tube station on his way to his ‘dream job’ at the London campus of Coventry University.

Loveridge had stabbed Kamil Bulat in the buttocks just over half an hour before the fatal attack on January 19 last year.

Mr Young, who grew up in Paignton, Devon, and lived in Morden, was attacked as he walked through Kendor Gardens at around 8am.

Police and paramedics were called at 8.07am as rush-hour commuters desperately tried to save his life but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Bulat, aged 23 at the time, had been attacked at around 7.25am in nearby Lewis Road.

Loveridge was arrested a week later and charged with Mr Young’s murder and the attempted murder of Mr Bulat. The killer, who has a history of mental health problems, appeared at the Old Bailey today flanked by three hospital workers in the dock.

He denied murder but admitted manslaughter by way of diminished responsibility.

Loveridge, wearing a grey hooded sweater, also admitted one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent relating to the attack on Mr Bulat. Prosecutors offered no evidence on the charge of attempted murder against Mr Bulat, who has returned to Poland since the attack.

Prosecutor William Boyce, QC, said the CPS accepted the pleas after two psychiatrists produced reports about Loveridge which showed he was suffering from paranoid shizophrenia at the time of the killing.

He has been moved to a psychiatric hospital while he awaits sentence. Judge Mark Lucraft, QC, may send Loveridge to a psychiatric hospital indefinitely or send him to prison when he sentences him at the Old Bailey on 24 October.

‘Today you have pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm,’ he said.

‘We will reconvene on the 24 October to deal with the question of how you are to be sentenced.’

Loveridge admitted manslaughter by way of diminished responsibility and wounding with intent.

He was formally cleared of one count of attempted murder.