A MENTAL health charity was ordered to pay £50,000 today after it admitted failing to protect a university graduate who was stabbed to death at work.

Ashleigh Ewing was killed by paranoid schizophrenic Ronald Dixon during a visit to his home nearly four years ago.

Today at Newcastle Crown Court, the charity Mental Health Matters pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations and was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay an additional £20,000 in costs.

The judge Mr Justice Keith said: "The fact that a life has tragically been lost is a fact which must be reflected in the level of the fine.

"But it goes without saying that nothing can compensate for the loss of Ashleigh's life, which is of course precious."

Northumbria University psychology graduate Miss Ewing, 22, from Hebburn, South Tyneside, was visiting Dixon's home in Eighth Avenue, Heaton, as part of her work with the Sunderland-based charity.

The former Hebburn Comprehensive pupil was alone on the last day of her six-month probation period when she was attacked.

Dixon, who later admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, stabbed her 39 times using four different kitchen knives.

Earlier in court today James Maxwell-Scott, defending, said: "I am entering a guilty plea on behalf of my client Mental Health Matters.

"The charity was charged with failing to ensure the safety of an employee under the Health and Safety at Work Act."

Mr Maxwell-Scott said: "Mental Health Matters wishes to apologise unreservedly to her family and the court for the failing which it admits.

"Mental Health Matters is deeply sorry that this tragedy occurred and its thoughts and sympathies are first and foremost with the family."

Kevin Donnelly, prosecuting, said Miss Ewing's death was not caused by Mental Health Matters but that further risk assessments and training should have been carried out by the charity in order to protect her.

He said: "The prosecution does not suggest that Ashleigh Ewing's death at the hands of Ronald Dixon was an event that could or should have been foreseen.

"Mental Health Matters failed to identify and respond to the increasing risks to which Ashleigh Ewing was exposed in the course of her employment."

But he added: "It cannot be said that the failings of Mental Health Matters caused Ashleigh Ewing's death."