A son who attacked his father for the third time has been put behind bars by a judge who told him that he needs to help himself.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Lloyd Broadhurst had drink and drug problems which lead him to lose control.
Judge Anil Murray told him that a psychiatrist says he would benefit from help with those issues. But he continued, “Given that you keep voluntarily taking drink and drugs I find no mitigation in that. You need to take steps to address your addictions. Until you do you will find yourself in and out of prison.”
The defendant, of Beckett Drive, Winwick, Warrington, had a 32-week suspended prison sentence hanging over him at the time of the latest attack on his dad and the judge today activated that. He also imposed four weeks for the new offence to run consecutively, jailing him for a total of 36 weeks.
He said that the defendant had got into a rage and swung his father by his shirt. “Your father is trying to help you but the person who really needs to help you is you.”
Judge Murray said that Broadhurst had a substance misuse history including taking cocaine, ecstasy and psychedelic drugs and as a result has liver failure, pancreatitis and paranoia.
“You had been drinking eight cans of lager a day and got angry and took it out on your father.”
The court heard that a probation report described him as a “high risk” to the public.
Broadhurst aged 29, had pleaded guilty to common assault which occurred on July 29 last year.
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said that on that day the defendant and his dad, Michael, went out to buy camping equipment. When they came home the tent popped open which enraged Broadhurst who demanded it should be returned.
It was swopped but when they returned Mr Broadhurst snr folded it incorrectly so it would not fit in the bag and his son screamed at him to go away which he did. When he came back in they managed to fold it away and the defendant thanked him.
But when Mr Broadhurst snr started to cook their evening meal “the defendant started to call him names and was screaming at him in the hallway and becoming confrontational.
“They were by the front door which was open and the defendant exploded in rage and lunged towards him and due to previous assaults which resulted in his hospitalisation he ran away,” said Mr Blasbery.
The police were called and when interviewed by police the defendant made no comment.
The court heard that he has ten previous convictions for 18 offences including assaulting his father and emergency workers. He received the suspended sentence in May last year after admitting affray involving leaving his dad curled into a ball after being backed into a corner while Broadhurst was armed with a knife.
Paul Wood, defending, said that Broadhurst had spent four and a half months in custody on remand before the suspended sentence was imposed and if it was now activated he would be released having served the appropriate time.
“He needs support with drugs and alcohol issues. He clearly has very serious mental health problems and unfortunately, when stressed he drinks and uses drugs which exacerbates the problems he has which results in this type of behaviour.”
Mr Wood said that Broadhurst’s parents were in the public gallery and the defendant had told how he loves his family. “He clearly loves his dad. His father has made it clear he regards his son extremely highly.”
He said the defendant’s anti-psychotic medication has been increased and he has abstained from alcohol and drink while in prison.
Mr Wood said that the defendant wants help but Judge Murray pointed out, “He needs to start doing something to help himself.”