A WOMAN who was cleared of attempted murder by reason of insanity has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

A jury found Claire Winslade, 32, not guilty of the charge following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

It was heard Ms Winslade had been seen holding a child under the water at Southbourne beach.

Three joggers and a dog walker intervened to rescue the child on January 9 this year, jurors heard.

Rob Welling, prosecuting, told the trial Ms Winslade had also been carrying her dead father's urn at the time of the incident and had intended to scatter his ashes.

He said that she believed the boy had a "demon" inside him and his death would cure him and bring both him and her father back to life.

Mr Welling said Ms Winslade had a history of mental illness which deteriorated following the death of her father.

He told the court Ms Winslade, of Seabourne Road, Bournemouth, did not deny the actions she was accused of.

Following the verdict on Tuesday, the judge, Mr Justice Dingemans, held a further hearing in which he issued a hospital order for Winslade to be detained under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Describing the incident, Mr Welling said: "She and (the boy) went to the Southbourne seafront, she had with her an urn that contained her father's ashes. He died in November 2014.

"At the beach she walked (the boy) into the sea up to knee or waist level then she held his head under the water.

"Had it not been for three passing joggers and a dog walker, (the boy) might have drowned that morning."

Mr Welling said Ms Winslade told doctors after she was sectioned that she had tried to drown the boy "because she believed he had a demon in him, by doing so he would be returned alive with her father".

He added: "She was so delusional that she genuinely believed she was saving (the boy) by her actions."

Mr Welling said the joggers believed at first that Ms Winslade was washing a dog under the water.

An eyewitness described that the boy said afterwards to Winslade: "Why did you push me over?"