THE DIRECTOR of a mental health trust has called for a public inquiry into the case of Cwmbran triple killer Stephen Price.

Paranoid schizophrenic Price mowed down and killed friends Martin Connop, Emma Proctor and John Gibbings in April while driving his father's 4x4 in Pontnewydd, Cwmbran.

Price pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the ground of diminished responsibility, and on Friday Judge John Griffith Williams, the Recorder of Cardiff, ordered Price to be detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act.

Today, Michael Howlett, director of mental health campaign group the Zito Trust, said Price may not have got the treatment he needed.

"I think that an inquiry should take place," said Mr Howlett. "It seems as though there were obvious signs building up over a long time that Price needed treatment.

"I am not pointing the finger at anyone, but three people have lost their lives and we should not simply say this is the end of it."

He added: "Assessing the risk of mental health patients over the years has not been very good."

In court Patrick Harrington, QC, defending, said a doctor assessed Price in February this year and said he was not a danger.

Price was referred to a psychiatrist but did not keep the appointment.

On the call for an inquiry, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Gamlin, who led the inquiry, said: "I'm not sure whether this case falls into that category, and it is not the responsibility of the police to decide that."

William Graham, Conservative AM for South East Wales, called for more resources to treat those affected by mental health issues. "What is distressing is if we accept the man was ill - and we have to do that - that he was actually offered so little help," he said.