A CARER who smashed a china mug into the face of her disabled partner has been put under treatment for her own mental health.

Mandy Holland claimed a mystery man had come into her house and attacked her long term boyfriend, even though social workers were outside and saw no one enter.

Now after the 51-year-old finally admitted she was responsible for leaving him covered in blood a judge imposed a hospital order under the Mental Health Act.

That means she will be detained at a psychiatric unit to receive treatment rather than go back to jail, where she has already spent months on remand.

Tim Hills, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how Holland had been asking for respite as she looked after her on off partner Mark Lauder, 48.

He has a brain injury after suffering a number of strokes which had left him with mobility and communication issues.

When social workers arrived at the Turner Street house they shared in August 2015 they noticed it was messy and came to the conclusion she needed help.

Holland initially told them she did not want them to attend that day and when they asked if she wanted respite she replied she was angry and wanted Mr Lauder to go, saying she had had enough of him.

The social workers said they would organise respite care for her and were waiting in their car outside the end terrace.

About half an hour later Holland came out, telling them about five minutes earlier an 'unidentified man' had come into the property and attacked Mr Lauder.

He was bleeding heavily from a cut to his head, she told them, but he was not letting her treat it.

The social workers, who had been outside the whole time and saw no one go in, went in and found his face covered in blood.

He told them she had struck him in the head with what he thought was a china mug, which broke on impact.

Mr Hills said the defendant maintained that story for 18 months until April this year when she finally admitted responsibility for the incident.

Holland, formally of Turner Street but who now lives in Gloucester, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm.

Alistair Hegarty, defending, pointed out that over the course of the case his client had been in custody for eight months: the equivalent of a one year four month sentence.

He said she will be in hospital for at least six months and only released when medics think it is suitable.

Judge Robert Pawson imposed a hospital order saying: "This case has got a long history and I have read various reports about you."

Holland and Mr Lauder had been in a relationship for about 10 years, before her arrest, and she was also his carer.

In 2006 the couple were evicted from a council property in Penhill amid claims it had been turned into a crack den.