‘Paranoid’ Nazi fanatic who shot dead children’s author James Nash was a heroin addict for 10 years
THE “PARANOID” neighbour who shot a children’s author in the face was a heroin addict for ten years, it emerged yesterday. And Alex Sartain’s father had begged for him to be sectioned for the fifth time just a week before he blasted James Nash with a home-made shotgun. Nazi fanatic Sartain, 34, sped off on […]
THE “PARANOID” neighbour who shot a children’s author in the face was a heroin addict for ten years, it emerged yesterday.
And Alex Sartain’s father had begged for him to be sectioned for the fifth time just a week before he blasted James Nash with a home-made shotgun.
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NINTCHDBPICT000600554975.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NINTCHDBPICT000600437503.jpg?strip=all&w=711)
![Sartain died at the scene](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/d6e32abd-8c1d-4a68-b3a2-106c68c57ab9.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Nazi fanatic Sartain, 34, sped off on his motorbike and died in a 100mph crash three miles away.
Mr Nash, 42 — a company director and parish councillor — died two days later.
Space scientist wife Sarah, 40, was injured in the attack in the front garden of their thatched cottage in Upper Enham, Hants.
Sartain, a mechanic at his dad’s motorbike shop, believed Mr Nash was a “government agent” sent to spy on him.
![The victim's wife Dr Sarah Nash is a scientist at the Science and Technology Facilities Council](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NINTCHDBPICT000600397202.jpg?strip=all&w=863)
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/DD-COMPOSITE-ATTACK-IN-BROAD-DAYLIGHT-2.jpg?strip=all&w=495)
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Family friend Tony Bennett, 55, said: “Alex was completely failed. His dad John feels let down.”
He said schizophrenic Sartain had been sectioned four times in the last three years, adding: “John called them again just last week.
“I would say Alex was on heroin for about ten years . . . he had a girlfriend a long time ago but really heroin was his girlfriend.”
![Left to right shows Sartain's dad's motorcycle repair shop, the house he was living in and the Nash's home](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/406f3e0d-880d-45b0-9021-c8e5c66b9bfc.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Forensic officers on the scene today](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/bb13c271-4c13-4823-b434-89dc2540a991.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Police have not released a motive for the shooting](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/271ffc87-228a-4c84-8ddf-cd52409fa76a.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VP-MAP-SHOOTING-APP.jpg?strip=all&w=905)
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