A NEWPORT woman who tried to kill two children by cutting their throats has been made the subject of a two-year supervision order.

A jury at Cardiff Crown Court last month unanimously acquitted Sadie Jenkins, 28, of two charges of the attempted murder of two children on the grounds of insanity. She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Jenkins, of no fixed abode, used an eight-centimetre kitchen steak knife to cut the throats of the children on the morning of May 7 last year.

The court heard how one of the children was found holding a blanket to their neck covering a cut across their throat from "ear to ear". There were also smaller lacerations which suggested to doctors there had been "some sort of sawing motion".

During the trial, a psychiatrist told the court that Jenkins "believed what she was doing was right" because of a severe psychosis which was brought on by her use of amphetamines.

Earlier in the week Jenkins sobbed in the dock as a witness, who was asleep in the house at the time of the attack, told how she was woken up by the children screaming.

Dr Philip Joseph, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, said in the hours leading up to the attack Jenkins was "in the grip of a psychotic illness" and believed the children were at danger from the mafia.

Jenkins experienced delusions including hearing voices as well as a mafia helicopter circling overhead.

Jenkins said she believed "there was no other way".

Dr Joseph said: "She had the intention to kill them because she believed if she did not they would be tortured and then killed by an organisation."

The court heard how Jenkins had smoked cannabis since aged 11 but later amphetamines were her "main drug".

Sentencing Jenkins at Cardiff Crown Court today, Mrs Justice Sue Carr DBE said: "Due to your psychosis you did not understand it was wrong."

She added: "You can now understand the consequences of your drug taking."

Since her arrest, the court heard Jenkins has tested negative on drugs tests showing she has not taken drugs since that time.

A supervision order was made for two years along with drug testing on a weekly basis.

Mrs Carr added: "It's essential that you are supervised within the community."