‘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.

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James Nash, 42, died after being shot in the face by drug addict neighbour Alex Sartain[/caption]

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.

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.”

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