A MAN who said God told him to try to kill a tourist by hitting him over the head with a cobble has been jailed for a minimum of four-and-a-half years.

Paul Knipe, 44, struck South African holidaymaker Lyle Thole several times as he was returning to his hotel in York, leaving him needing 30 stitches.

He told 78-year-old Mr Thole he was mentally ill and was going to kill him during the attack in July last year.

Knipe was sentenced to imprisonment for public protection at York Crown Court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to attempted murder.

Judge Stephen Ashurst, the Recorder of York, told him he would serve at least four-and-ahalf years in jail before being considered for release.

“You attacked a completely blameless stranger, who you had met near York Minster when Mr Thole was on holiday from South Africa,’’ he said.

“The attack on Mr Thole was an extremely dangerous one.’’ Judge Ashurst continued: “It’s fortunate indeed that a number of members of the clergy at York Minster were on hand and you did not persist with the attack.

“You made it clear that God was telling you to kill this random stranger.’’ Mr Thole, who was on a golfing holiday, received injuries to his head, elbow and fingers.

He was returning to his hotel at about 8.30pm on July 1 last year when he took a wrong turning near York Minster and found himself at a dead end.

As he turned around, Knipe, who had been following him for about 15 to 20 minutes, struck him on the back of the head with a cobble. He continued the attack, striking him a further three or four times, while Mr Thole was on his hands and knees.

When he asked Knipe what he wanted, the defendant replied: “I’m mentally ill and I’m going to kill you.’’ Knipe, of Spring Hill, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, gave a prepared statement to police, in which he said: “I have been hearing voices for around a year, telling me to kill people. I have told my psychiatrist on a number of occasions about these voices but they’ve told me as long as I don’t act on them, everything will be okay.’’ David Dixon, defending, said Knipe led a “normal, responsible and caring life” but had changed after his mother died a few years ago.

He had been receiving treatment for mental health problems.

The court heard Knipe was detained under the Mental Health Act in April last year after he told a police officer he was going to be on the front page of newspapers because he was going to kill someone.

Judge Ashurst said he believed Knipe was a risk to members of the public and would remain in prison until his mental health improved.